Sunderland burglar left six-year-old girl in fear of 'bad man' coming back - but got caught thanks to can of Fosters

Michael Waites watched the family head off on a shopping trip last April and took the chance to break into their home, rifle through every room and help himself to £3,000 worth of property before they got back.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the little girl saw the aftermath of the raid, including the arrival of a forensic team, when she returned from the shops with her mum and dad and was left traumatised.

Prosecutor Stuart Graham told the court the mum said her young daughter has been left "absolutely terrified" and added: "She arrived back at the house to see what had been left by the defendant, she was there to see the house had been turned upside down and the arrival of the forensics team.

"She describes her daughter is absolutely terrified and wanting to sleep with her parents' for many weeks afterwards, waking up in the middle of the night thinking a bad man was coming into the house."

The court heard the whole family was effected by the raid and the mum said she tried to "put on a brave face" for the children.

Mr Graham added: "She has said the defendant, by his actions, has destroyed her happiness in her home.

"She was shocked to the core, utterly devastated."