A BURGLAR who twice crept through a roof space to raid his next-door neighbour's house has been jailed for 15 months.

William Alan Edeson, 23, stole two televisions worth £159 during his trips along a terrace of houses in Church Road, Whitley Bridge, near Selby, James Robinson, prosecuting, told York Crown Court. But on his second raid, neighbours, alerted by the noise he made, spotted him squeezing through a loft hatch as he tried to escape. Edeson pleaded guilty to burglary and failure to attend court.

For Edeson, Nicholas Barker said he believed his neighbours had gone to Ireland permanently and abandoned the property in the house. He stole a £10 black and white television and a colour television. Although he had previous convictions for theft, this was his first house raid and he had spent six weeks in prison awaiting sentence.

He was a former heroin addict who had stolen the televisions to fund his drug habit and to feed and clothe his family. He had a partner and young children.

Updated: 12:03 Saturday, March 15, 2003