A TEENAGER stole cash, a camera and other items from another tenant at a house in Eastleigh after walking into his unlocked room, Winchester Crown Court was told.

The victim, Patrick Kunn, initially thought the only thing missing was an envelope, containing about £90 in cash, which he had put on a shelf.

The thief, Ashley Bettridge, 18, left his digs and it was not until his landlady was cleaning his room for an incoming tenant that she found other stolen property.

Prosecutor Unyime Davies said Bettridge had also taken a camera to Cash Converters, which had been subsequently sold on and not recovered.

Bettridge, of no fixed address, admitted burglary and was placed under supervision for 12 months with an order to carry out 120 hours unpaid work for the community.

Passing sentence, Recorder Alistair Malcolm QC described the burglary as mean.

Mitigating for the teenager, who had three previous convictions, Andrew Coley said he had been virtually homeless because of domestic difficulties.