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A former commando who burgled student flats was caught on CCTV making himself at home - even watching pornography and masturbating during the bizarre raid.

Connor Alexander forced entry to the block in Newcastle in the early hours of the morning and helped himself to food and appeared to start dancing in footage of his unusual antics.

A court heard that during the break-in at Winn Studios, in Shieldfield, Alexander urinated on the floor and created a £100 cleaning bill on a sofa while watching pornography.

He also made a mess on the floor by throwing food around in the communal area as the students who lived there slept.

Now the 22-year-old, of Bayswater Road, Jesmond, Newcastle, who has amassed more than 50 convictions in three years since leaving the armed forces, has been locked up at Newcastle Crown Court.

The court heard a security officer was called to the flats on Stoddart Street after Alexander set off fire alarms by breaking in.

Prosecutor Mark Giuliani said: "He checked the CCTV, which showed the defendant entering the residence and it showed shortly before 6.30am, he forced his way into the building by pulling hard on the front door.

"He then loiters around reception before urinating on the floor.

"He is then lying on the sofa and somehow got the TV to work and he then viewed some pornography and masturbated on the students' sofa.

"He then walked across to the kitchen and he took a lot of food, some of which was found to have been thrown on the benches, floor and in the kitchen. The food belonged to the students."

The total damage done to the property was £500 and there was a £100 cleaning bill as a result of his activities on the sofa.

Alexander was arrested after returning to the block later that day to sleep under some stairs.

He pleaded guilty to burglary and admitted another break in a couple of hours earlier at a student house in Simonside Terrace, Heaton, during which he was confronted by occupants who heard him creeping around their home.

Jailing him for 20 months for two counts of burglary and criminal damage, Recorder John Bate-Williams said in relation to the Winn Studios offence: "You threw food around, urinated on the floor and behaved in a disgusting fashion while watching pornography on the communal TV and caused £100 of damage to the sofa, which you soiled."

After hearing about his military career, the judge added: "It's really sad to see a young man off 22 who has served his country throughout his late teens, appearing in this crown court and facing these convictions for residential burglaries and criminal damage.

"You have 50 previous convictions in little over three years, which in my experience as a part time judge is pretty remarkable.

"I strongly suspect a lot of your offending is associated with drinking too much.

"You had a useful career in the army, I know it can be a massive let down when you come back to civvy street, which in many respects is going to be extremely shallow compared to your service."

Angus Taylor, defending, said Alexander had been looking for food that night.

He told the court: "He regrets the burglaries and wishes to apologise to the victims for what he has done.

"He was homeless at the time and was sofa surfing."

Mr Taylor said Alexander had become friendly with someone at Winn Studios, knew the layout and had nowhere else to go.

He added: "He is extremely ashamed of what happened in the building. He tells me he was in drink at the time.

"He is extremely and acutely embarrassed by his behaviour."

Mr Taylor said Alexander had been in the commandos but was medically discharged and had fallen out with his family.