A COUPLE addicted to heroin were arrested for a burglary after being seen trying the doors of cars and houses in the early hours of the morning, a court was told today (Tuesday, January 7).

Police stopped Vanessa Booth, 35, and Keith Edgar, 37, after they were seen acting suspiciously in Newfield, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, at 1.30am on July 9.

Kate Dodds, prosecuting at Durham Crown Court, said Edgar was carrying a black rucksack containing gloves, bin liners, a torch and a mobile phone, while a wallet was found in road immediately behind the patrol car.

Inquiries revealed the wallet and mobile phone had been stolen from a house in Alexandra Street, Newfield, where entry was gained through an insecure door.

Booth also faced a separate charge of burglary at a house in Station Road, Beamish, where a wallet, cash and bank card were stolen from a bag, after entry was gained through insecure front door the previous evening. Fingerprints found at the scene matched those of Booth.

Joanne Kidd, mitigating for Edgar, said he had “fallen into temptation while under influence of drugs and alcohol”.

She added, he had made a degree of progress addressing his drug problem and wanted the opportunity to prove he could put his addiction behind him.

Bob Spragg, mitigating for Booth, said she was a mother who was determined to address her alcohol and heroin addiction problems - and was on a methadone programme to tackle the heroin.

Recorder Sophie Drake sentenced Edgar, who had a recent previous conviction for burglary, to 21 months in jail.

Edgar, of Gairloch Drive, Pelton, pleaded guilty to the joint charge - but not at an early opportunity, the court heard.

Booth of Pine Street, Grange Villa, was sentenced to 21 months in jail, suspended for two years, with a supervision order – including a four-month alcohol treatment requirement.

She was given credit for an early plea of guilty.