TWO burglars with more than 150 convictions between them are today back in jail thanks to a public-spirited neighbour.

Sean Robert Barker, 25, was on parole from a prison sentence for house raids and Gareth Gowlett, 31, was on bail for shoplifting as well as under a community order, York Crown Court heard.

But that did not deter them from roaming the streets of York looking for a chance to commit a crime.

Alan Mitcheson, prosecuting, said they broke into a ground floor flat in White House Court, off St Olave’s Road, Clifton at 7.20pm on May 19.

But a resident in the flat immediately above it noticed them and alerted police who caught the pair as Barker, inside the flat, was handing Gowlett a television and a laptop computer through a forced window.

Magistrates remanded Barker in custody, but released Gowlett on bail and he twice went shoplifting before prosecutors persuaded them to keep him locked up.

Gowlett, of St Phillip’s Grove, and Barker, of Rowntree Avenue, both in Clifton, admitted burglary. Gowlett also admitted three shoplifting charges.

Barker, who had three previous convictions for burglary, was jailed for 32 months, and Gowlett for ten months.

The parole board has recalled Barker to continue serving the 33-month sentence from which he was released early five months before the flat burglary.

For Barker, who has 30 previous convictions, Nicholas Barker said his client was easily led and was not a sturdy character. At the time of the flat burglary, he had been addicted to M-cat, an illegal drug, and that had led him to commit crimes.

Mr Mitcheson said in a police interview Gowlett claimed Sean Barker had persuaded him to go out and look for something to steal because Barker was in debt at the time.

For Gowlett, who has 125 previous convictions, Kevin Blount said he had been acting as a look-out and had not gone into the flat.

He was the carer for his mother and his wife had health difficulties.