A 22-year-old man has been hit with a nine-month jail term after raiding his cousin's house, along with an accomplice, because he needed money to clear his debts.

Recorder Derek Chinnery at Wolverhampton Crown Court told Chad Fellows from Dudley it was clear he targeted the property in Cowdrey Close because he knew the lay-out and he added: "What you did was mean against a family member."

Fellows was with 19-year-old Conor Welch when they got into the house and took a TV, laptops, jewellery and cash valued at a total of £2,470 - Mark Rees, prosecuting, told the court.

But a vigilant neighbour spotted the two young men walking towards a Ford Escort van carrying the TV and a large white box and he took the registration number of the vehicle.

It was later found by police who recovered the TV, and Fellows and Welch were arrested but officers failed to find the rest of the stolen property.

When questioned, Fellows told police there had been a "falling out" with his cousin and he said he had been given the TV for information about the house.

Fellows and Welch, both of The Broadway, Dudley, admitted burglary; and Fellows, who the Recorder described as the "prime mover", was given nine months behind bars.

While teenager Welch, who had had his poetry published, was given a six-month jail term, suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to do 125 hours of community punishment and to pay compensation of £1,180 to the victim.

Rachel Harris, defending Fellows, said he had not realised the consequences of his actions as she stressed he was in debt and "stupidly" took part in the raid to get money to ease his financial problems.

Stephen Hamblett, defending Welch, said his client had committed the offences because he had got in with the wrong crowd - but he was now hoping to study philosophy.