Over the course of three hours in Janurary, Mason Jones had unsuccessfully tried to force entry to properties on Amberley Chase, Flodden, Garth Twenty Four, Greenacres Close, Oakfield Drive, Sedgemoor, Stratford Close, West Mount and West Wynd.

It was later reported that a BMW vehicle had been stolen from outside of an address close to Oakfield Drive over the course of the same night.

Further reports of attempted break-ins were received two days later on Station Road in Wallsend, from two properties on Cartington Avenue in Shiremoor on January 25, and at Lauderdale Avenue in Wallsend on January 27.

This spate of offences led to further patrols being put in place in the area, and police received two more reports of attempted break-ins on Station Road in Wallsend just after 2am on January 28.

He pleaded guilty at Newcastle Crown Court on February 27, and last week was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court to 28 months in a youth offenders institution.