Two burglars addicted to crack cocaine and heroin stole thousands of pounds worth of property from homes in York to feed their habits.

Kevin Cumberland, 19, of Tang Hall Lane, York, and Tony Gray, also 19, of Vincent Way, York, were today starting jail terms after pleading guilty at Yotk Crown Court to a total of six charges of burglary and handling stolen goods.

They each received prison sentences of two years.

An accomplice, 19-year-old Nicola Brown, of Bramham Road, Chapelfields, York, pleaded guilty to one charge of burglary and one of handling.

She was sentenced to an 18-month community rehabilitation order.

The court heard that Cumberland alone was spending £100 a day on crack and heroin before being arrested and remanded in custody for a house burglary in Acomb.

The court heard that in that burglary Cumberland broke into the house while its owners were asleep upstairs. He stole property including jewellery and bank cards, then took a set of keys and drove off in the family car. The total haul was worth £12,500.

For Cumberland, Michael Collins said the offences were committed to feed his client's drug addiction.

"He has had time to reflect on his lifestyle. He is remorseful and wants to come off drugs," said Mr Collins.

Judge Jim Spencer told Cumberland and Gray they were now "serious criminals" and a custodial sentence was the only option.

He said: "You have been involved in dwelling house burglaries, whether that is to fund a drug habit or not does not matter. The fact remains you are habitual criminals."

Judge Spencer warned Cumberland he would be jailed for a minimum of three years if he was convicted of another house burglary, under the "three strikes and you're out rule".

Sentencing Brown, Judge Spencer said she had got involved with criminals. But he said he had taken her age and previous clean record into account and imposed the community sentence.

Detective Sergeant Steve Smith, who heads the York burglary squad, said a team of officers was working around the clock to bring house raiders to justice.

He said: "Drug addiction fuels lawlessness, but recent figures, and results such as this, show we are getting to grips with house burglaries in the city."

Updated: 13:26 Wednesday, April 14, 2004