A DRUG-USING burglar who carried out a series of raids on a housing estate has been spared jail after a judge heard of his mental health problems.

One member of the public – who had only recently moved into the area – thought that Jamie Walkden was a neighbour about to set out for work when he saw him with a bicycle at the property next door, said Stephen Thornton, prosecuting at York Crown Court.

But when the “neighbour” crouched behind a wheelie bin as a police car drove past, the eyewitness then realised something was wrong and alerted the officers, who caught Walkden after a short chase.

Earlier, Walkden had fled from a garden shed in Cedar Way, Selby, on the same estate, when he was spotted by the owner, and had raided a garage attached to a house in Sycamore Mews.

Walkden, 25, of Ousegate Lodge, Selby, pleaded guilty to two burglaries and theft of the bicycle.

He had a previous conviction for house burglary.

He was given an 18-month prison sentence suspended for two years on condition he did 12 months’ supervision.

Recorder James Baird said after reading a psychiatric report: “It is perfectly clear at the time these offences were committed, you were in a bad mental state, maybe because of long-term problems, but your drug misuse clearly doesn’t help. It is important you keep yourself away from cannabis and M-cat, substances you have used in the past.”

His barrister, Jessica Strange, said that he was a different man now from the man who committed the burglaries in December 2013.

“He has done everything he can to take himself away from the area and from offending,” she said.

Walkden was placed under the supervision of a mental-health care co-ordinator, whom he saw regularly.

He had been given and was taking medication and had settled accommodation.