A PLASTERER “betrayed” a friend who had given him a home by breaking in to steal cash.

Dean Nightingale broke into Lee Hardie’s house when it was unoccupied and used kitchen knives to try to break open a money box.

But the victim’s ex-partner – accompanied by her three-year-old daughter – came to the house in Oakleigh Road, Droitwich, to fill the swimming pool, Worcester Crown Court was told.

She found Nightingale in the living room trying to extract money from the box’s slot and told him she was disgusted at his behaviour He apologised and begged her not to tell anyone before fleeing from the house, said Alex Warren, prosecuting.

Nightingale, aged 32, of Nunnery Avenue, Droitwich, pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal.

Nightingale had lived at Mr Hardie’s address for some weeks when he was homeless, said Mr Warren.

Jailing him for six months, Judge Alistair McCreath said: “This was a terribly mean offence and a betrayal of the friendship and kindness that was shown to you over the years. What a way of repaying it.”

The judge said it was shocking and distressing for those who came on the scene to find the crime being carried out.But on June 23, when the victim was at work, he went to the property to retrieve a power tool. When he couldn’t find it in a shed, he got into the house by an unlocked patio door.

Nightingale thought he could get more money from the box than selling the tool. He needed cash to fund an addiction to heroin.

He had 31 offences on his record, including 17 for fraud and theft.

Last year, while doing plastering work at another house, he stole £180 from a bedroom wardrobe.

Abigail Nixon, defending, said Nightingale gave up heroin for five years with the help of the community drugs team, but relapsed after splitting up from his partner and their children and losing his home.