An Ely teenager with an “appalling” record who burgled village homes with a friend has been locked up.

Timothy Stone-Parker, 19, of Clayway, Ely, and Eli Murkin, 19, of Elmcroft Close, Beck Row, both pleaded guilty to three offences of burglary.

The pair had broken into three homes in Red Lodge, near Mildenhall on the afternoon of May 6, Ipswich Crown Court heard yesterday.

Judge Robert Overbury sentenced Stone-Parker to two years and 146 days custody and Murkin to seven months custody. Both will serve their sentences in a Young Offenders Institution.

They were told by Judge Rupert Overbury: “I am firmly of the view that young men who break into other peoples home and defile their property can only expect to receive a custodial sentence.

“Anyone who breaks into someones home violates their personal security.”

Judge Overbury said Stone-Parker had an “appalling record” of previous offences and while Murkin may have been led astray, he had taken the decision to take part in the burglaries.

Prosecuting, Martin Ivory said a neighbour who realised that a burglary at one of the homes was taking place alerted police and officers were able to detain Stone-Parker and Murkin nearby.

At each of the properties panes of glass in rear doors had been smashed to gain entry and the homes were then searched, although nothing appeared to have been taken from two of them but wine and beer had been taken from a third address.

The court heard that Stone-Parker had previous convictions and because of that had to receive a substantial sentence under the so-called “three strikes” rule which applies to house burglars.

Appearing for Stone-Parker, Nicola Devas told the court that he accepted that he was on the verge of alcoholism.

Miss Devas said: “It is perhaps extremely sad and troubling that he is only aged 19.

“His problem seems to be that he has been drinking heavily. He has been having problems with alcohol for some five years.”

While he had not set out with the aim of committing burglary, Stone-Parker acted spontaneously when he had been drinking and without considering what he was doing, said Miss Devas.

She added: “He is aware that he can’t continue to drink in this way if he wants to have a life, otherwise he will spend longer and longer periods in custody. That is not what he wants to do.”

Joanne Eley, representing Murkin, said he was “naive and seemed young” for his age and had, before meeting Stone-Parker, had only one friend.

Stone-Parker had become friends with him and on the day of the burglaries they had met at a pub in Red Lodge for lunch before deciding to go for a walk.

Murkin had acted as a look-out for the first two offences but admitted he had gone inside the third property.

Miss Eley said: “He says that his curiosity got the better of him.”