Frightened Sunderland mum confronted burglar who walked in on her and three-year-old daughter

Serial burglar Dale Hughes, 31, let himself into the victim's home via the back door and helped himself to property, including a phone, camera and jewellery from the kitchen before going into the living room.

Prosecutor Helen Towers told Newcastle Crown Court the mum, who was in the room with her little girl, bravely ordered the stranger to leave her home.

Miss Towers told the court: "She shouted to him to get out, which he did.

"He appeared to her to be under the influence of something.

"She noticed an iPhone, digital camera and jewellery had been taken from the kitchen area."

The court heard the victim feared for the safety of herself and her daughter and said the raid, which happened in Sunderland in February, was a "complete invasion of privacy".

Miss Towers added: "She is disgusted this male has entered her home and gone through her things.

"She was at the address with her small daughter and was frightened for their safety.

"She said she shouldn't have to be scared in her own home."

Hughes, of Tower Street, Hendon, Sunderland, admitted burglary.

The court heard the conviction is his eighth for raiding people's homes.

Judge Amanda Rippon branded Hughes a "prolific burglar" and sentenced him to two years and five months behind bars.

The judge told him: "When confronted by you she was extremely scared for her own safety and that of her daughter."

Kate Barnes, defending, said Hughes had a dependency on drugs but had been "doing relatively well" after his last release from prison until the death of his mother late last year.

Miss Barnes said he then returned to his problematic habits

She said: "He relapsed into using illicit drugs and was taking, amongst other things, spice and valium.

"Against that background he wandered into this lady's home and opportunistically stole items from her kitchen."

Miss Barnes said Hughes has sought help in custody to help him lead a "law abiding lifestyle" in future.

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