A BARROW man could be jailed after he burgled the home of a sleeping family who had sheltered him when he was homeless.

Good Samaritan Alistair Marshall said the thief - Benjamin Roden - abused their trust after they tried their best to help him sort out his life.

The 36-year-old head chef said he and his wife, Sarah, had tried their hardest to help him create a stable environment so he could go for custody of his daughter.

He repaid them by burgling their home while they were in bed.

Their six-year-old daughter now takes extra toys to bed "so they don't go missing".

Roden, of Rawlinson Street, Barrow, appeared before Furness Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Mr Lee Dacre, prosecuting, told how Roden had been working at the Eagle's Head pub in Satterthwaite, near Ulverston, and he became friendly with the head chef and his wife.

He added: "He would give him lifts back to Barrow and because he was homeless they put him up at their home in their guest room. He had stopped there for two weeks and on June 9 they came down the next day to find items were missing. They realised that a door hadn't been locked.

"When they searched the defendant's address they found the items but the £100 in money was not recovered.

"This was a gross breach of trust committed at night while they slept."

Roden, 20, admitted entering the Marshall's home in Parkside, Swarthmoor and stealing a Toshiba chrome book, two glass boot-shaped vases containing £50 each, a key and three bottles of alcohol.

Mr Michael Graham, defending, said: "I have nothing really to say. This was a night time burglary taking place while they slept. It was a breach of trust of a couple who had been helping him."

Mr Marshall, who moved to the area from Potters Bar in 2008, said: "Basically he came to work for me for a little bit. He was homeless and I said to him 'why don't you come and stay with us. We have a spare room.'

"All was fine and then he suddenly disappeared for a few days. He then got in touch about wanting some money but I said I couldn't as he hadn't been going to work.

"The next morning I came down and noticed things were missing. I put two and two together and knew who it was. I had been saving my tips in jars and they had gone.

"All we tried to do was help him. We were helping him sort out an application so he could get a flat.

"Then we find he has totally abused our trust.

"We weren't upset about the items and the money but the fact he could do this to us after everything we tried to do.

"He came into our house while we were sleeping and stole from us. It doesn't leave you with the best feeling.

"Our daughter is very astute and knows what has happened and was upset for us. Luckily its not giving her sleepless nights but she gathers more her toys up before she goes to bed so they are safe."

Magistrates decided their sentencing powers were inadequate and he will appear at Preston Crown Court on July 29.