A BURGLAR who stole from the family which took him in when he was down on his luck has been jailed for 18 months.

Paul Edward Newton, 22, was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court after being found guilty of breaking in to the home of Graeme Rogers and his family, in Sutton-on-the-Forest, and stealing a safe containing cash.

Mr Rogers said he was intending to use the money to set up a mechanics business, but had now been forced to abandon the plan because the money was never retrieved.

Newton, of Regent Avenue in Harrogate, was spotted by two residents of Stillington Road as he carried the safe across a field at the back of their house in February last year.

The couple, who asked not to be identified, became suspicious and challenged Newton and made a note of his car registration before he drove away. Newton was arrested later that day.

Det Con Yvonne Lumbard, of Northallerton CID, said: “Not only did the couple provide crucial information which led to the swift arrest of Newton, but they also gave up their free time to attend identification parades and court to give the evidence which led to his conviction.

“Newton’s betrayal of a family who came to his aid in his hour of need is disgraceful.

“Thanks to two astute members of the community he is now facing the justice he deserves.”

Mr Rogers, 40, said: “Without them it would not have gone to trial and we would not have got this prosecution.

“Newton was a friend of my eldest son and he feels guilty because it was him who invited him to stay, but it was us who made the decision.”