A thief who breached lockdown to break into cars has been jailed for 10 weeks.
Damon Clark was spotted by an off-duty policeman who was on his way to work acting suspiciously in the early hours.
He was nabbed - and with assistance from the public he was arrested for a string of car break-ins.
Clark was arrested after a spate of cars being targeted on Wednesday ion the Consett area.
Clark pleaded guilty to three charges of theft from a motor vehicle and five charges of attempted theft from a motor vehicle.
The 34-year-old, of Great North Road, Chester-Le-Street, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court yesterday and was sentenced to 12 weeks in prison.
Stanley and Consett Neighbourhood Inspector, Dave Stewart, said: “This is a time a lot of families are struggling, makes Clark’s actions even more despicable.
“The whole team want to thank to community for all the help in pulling this case together to ensure the right outcome was achieved.
“Keep yourselves safe and keep looking out for each other.”
