A burglar who was chased out of a house in Bury St Edmunds by the homeowner who then managed to snatch back his laptop from him has been jailed for 12 months.

A burglar who was chased out of a house in Bury St Edmunds by the homeowner who then managed to snatch back his laptop from him has been jailed for 12 months.

John Rainey managed to make good his escape following the burglary at the property in Abbotsbury Road in Bury St Edmunds on July 30 last year but was later arrested by police, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Rainey, 30 of no fixed address, admitted burglary and was jailed for 12 months.

Sentencing Rainey, who pleaded guilty to the burglary on what should have been the first day of his trial after he initially denied the offence, Judge David Pugh said he he had been drunk at the time of the break-in and had no previous convictions for burglary.

Joe Bird, prosecuting, said the homeowner had been at home at the time of the burglary and had disturbed Rainey.

Rainey had tried to run out of the house but the homeowner had managed to snatch his laptop back from him at the front door.