Skegby burglar jailed for 16 months

Intruder Christopher Beniston (25) was with another man, who was not caught, when they entered the house in George Street on 14th October.

The front door had been boarded up following a break-in only 48 hours earlier and the men removed one of the boards to get in, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

The victim was woken by loud banging about 2am and went downstairs to observe two men ransacking his kitchen.

The householder quietly backed off and grabbed a stool to defend himself, said Gareth Gimson, prosecuting.

The back door was locked and the householder swung the stool towards one of the men before both men ran upstairs.

Police sirens could be heard as the intruders jumped from a window to escape.

Beniston, of Mansfield Road, Skegby, was caught not far away.

Three mobile phones and £40 cash had been stolen.

Keys to a vehicle parked nearby were recovered.

Beniston had previous convictions for dishonesty but it was his first for burglary. He also admitted possession of cannabis.

His barrister Michael Evans said after his release from a custodial sentence Beniston had stopped taking drugs and sorted himself out. But he had gone off the rails after a crisis involving his father.

Judge Jeremy Lea told Beniston: ‘The householder was asleep at night in his bedroom. He then found you ransacking his kitchen.’