A BURGLAR claimed he was “off his head” with drugs when he went on a spree of largely commercial break-ins seeking money for his next fix, a court heard.

Rory Whitehead was just released from hospital after being treated for an overdose when he attempted to enter several non-residential buildings in Stanley.

Durham Crown Court was told two days earlier he was seen leaping the counter at the unstaffed customer services desk, which members of the public are not permitted to enter, at Asda, in Stanley, at 11.30pm on January 21.

He tried to open a till, but was disturbed by staff before taking anything.

Peter Sabiston, prosecuting, said two days later Whitehead broke into St Andrew’s Rest Home, at 5.15am, smashing a window, before entering the staff rest room and rifling through a locker.

Although he left the home with a repair bill of £782, nothing was taken.

Mr Sabiston said staff were relieved vulnerable residents were not confronted during the break-in.

A print matching footwear later seized from Whitehead was found on ladders used to reach the window.

At 7.15am Whitehead was seen acting suspiciously outside Clarence Bargain Store, where a member of security challenged him as he pulled at a rear security door.

When he walked away, it was seen that he had removed a panel from the door.

Mr Sabiston said the owner of Dodds Autos arrived at work at 7.15am to discover unlawful entry had been made via a skylight, requiring any intruder to drop 25ft to the floor.

Tools worth £4,195 were missing, but Whitehead came under suspicion as another foot print match again linked him to the crime.

When questioned he denied entering the nursing home and said he had been “off his head” at Asda, claiming he was looking for plugs to charge a newly bought mobile phone.

He also claimed to have been “off his face” at the time of the other offences.

Whitehead, 31, of Station Road, Stanley, eventually admitted three counts of burglary and one of attempted burglary.

Richard Bloomfield, mitigating, said it was only when the defendant saw the forensic evidence that he realised he was responsible for some of the crimes, due to his condition on his release from hospital between 4 and 5am on January 23.

Mr Bloomfield said due to his addiction Whitehead was desperate for money to buy more drugs and committed the offences, “on impulse”.

Deputy Circuit Judge Paul Worsley said the pre-sentence report on Whitehead “made sad reading” and told him if he needs to address his drug use to break the cycle of crime.

He imposed a 32-month prison sentence and added 14 days for the defendant’s failure to answer police court bail, in May.