A BURGLAR was brutally beaten up when he returned war medals stolen in a gang house raid, York Crown Court heard.

Max Ryan Howden, 25, took part in the Heworth burglary last May because of “encouragement” by people to whom he had a drug debt, said Julian Tanikal, defending.

Although he personally did not steal the medals, he got hold of them and returned them.

As a result, others involved in the crime beat him up, breaking his jaw and fracturing his eye socket.

York Crown Court heard a wedding ring inherited from the grandmother of one of the house’s residents and other jewellery have not been recovered.

Howden, of Hewley Avenue, Tang Hall, pleaded guilty to burglary and was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years on condition he does 120 hours’ unpaid work and 20 days’ rehabilitative activities.

Judge Andrew Stubbs QC told Howden about his part in the burglary: “That is what happens if you mix with this sort of people.

“You were in the process of throwing your life away."

He took Howden’s injuries into account and his efforts to stop his drink and drug lifestyle.

He said Howden’s effort to return the medals had been some consolation to the victim.

Mr Tanikal said Howden had been diagnosed with sleep apnoea which caused him to stop breathing momentarily 58 times an hour while sleeping.

That had given him mental health problems which he had tried to deal with using alcohol and drugs. He had since received medical treatment for sleep apnoea.

“He is desperately trying to make a clean break away from that previous lifestyle,” said Mr Tanikal.