A SERIAL thief is behind bars after raiding two homes within ten days - and trying to hit one victim with a guitar.

Jordan Dixon, 26, broke into the garages of two family homes in Birtley and Washington during lockdown, leaving his victims and their neighbours terrified.

In the first break-in, shortly after 7am on June 23, his victim thought a car had driven into his house after being awoken by a loud bang in his garage.

After going to investigate, the homeowner came face-to-face with Dixon who picked up a guitar and swung it menacingly at the occupant – before making off empty-handed.

A little over a week later, in the early hours of July 3, Dixon smashed his way into a garage in the Concord area of Washington while a family were sleeping upstairs.

There he took a child’s motorbike which he left around the back of the house, while also taking another bicycle from inside.

Dixon, of Bede Crescent, Washington, pleaded guilty to burglary, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and using abusive or insulting words or behaviour when he appeared before magistrates in South Tyneside on August 24.

Yesterday, at Newcastle Crown Court, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Detective Sergeant Chris Raper-Smith said: “Jordan Dixon is very well-known to police having caused a significant amount of misery to communities across Wearside.

“On this occasion, he targeted the garages of two family homes within a matter of days – he has persistently shown a total disregard for both the law and the livelihood of others.

“When disturbed by one of his victims, he acted aggressively and swung a guitar at the occupant – which came close to hitting him and would have caused serious injury.

“I am pleased that he now begins a significant period behind bars – there is no place for selfish individuals like Dixon in our communities, and I seriously hope he uses this time in jail to think carefully about his behaviour and the adverse effect it has on others.

“We will continue to do all we can to put burglars before the courts and are committed to taking robust and swift action against those who commit this intrusive crime.”

In a statement prepared for court, one of Dixon’s victims – who caught the intruder red-handed in his garage – admitted the incident has had a substantial impact on him and the wider community.

He said: “Since the crimes were committed I’ve been unable to sleep at night, I find myself waking up through the night at the slightest sound.

“The result of the burglary has also had an impact on the local community.

"I have a number of elderly neighbours who were genuinely shocked at the crime – who knows what mental anguish they too are suffering.”