Girl, 14, recruited teen to carry out raid on her father's Bilston home

The pair then committed the crime with three others, ransacking the address and taking a large amount of property, prosecutor Mr Robert Cowley told Wolverhampton Crown Court.

The daughter, her 17-year-old 'recruit' and three other people were variously involved in entering the house in Bilston three times in quick succession after she smashed a window, the court heard.

A large amount of goods, including several TV sets, an Xbox and a Wii console, were stolen, some of which were recovered while others were sold at pawn shops, continued Mr Cowley.

The burglars also took the van of the occupant and used it to drive away the haul but the vehicle had a tracker device that revealed it had been parked outside the home of the 17-year-old girl after being stolen, the court was told.

The victim, his wife and son were tipped off about the break-in by a neighbour who rang them in Egypt where they had arrived on holiday four days before receiving the bad news on September 20, revealed Mr Cowley.

The girl's father could not get a flight back home early and so had to spend over £800 on the phone trying to sort out the mess. He realised his daughter had been involved as she knew the secret hiding place for the key to his van and this was confirmed in a call to her which concluded with her sarcastically wishing him a 'happy holiday,' it was said.

She was his child from an earlier relationship and had left his home after a row to live with her mother the previous February, explained Mr Cowley.

She then escaped with a caution and was prepared to be the main prosecution witness against the others who each admitted the burglary on the day of their trial.

Mr Tarlowchan Dubb, defending the 17-year-old girl recruited by the daughter, neither of whom can be identified , said: "Due to the very unusual circumstances to this case she did not set out looking for a property to burgle but took advantage of an opportunity. The irony of this is the 14-year-old who was the main player in this received a caution."

The 17-year-old was given a 12-month youth rehabilitation order under supervision while 20-year-old Ryan Tonks from Hannah Road, Darlaston, received 11 months detention suspended for two years.

Andrew Greatrex, of Bunkers Hill Lane, Bilston, a 21-year-old former soldier, who also played a minor role in the crime received an 11-month prison term that will run concurrently with a two year jail sentence currently being serving for an unrelated matter. The final defendant, another 17-year-old girl who cannot be named, will be dealt with at a later date.

All admitted to charges of burglary.