A burglar who was arrested at home just 15 minutes after breaking into a property in Essex has been jailed.

Officers arrested Ian Slater, 39, of Pembroke Place, Chelmsford, when they heard a mobile phone, which was stolen minutes earlier, ringing from outside.

Slater was sentenced to 12 months for burglary at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday after admitting the offence.

Police received reports of a burglary at an address in Partridge Avenue, Chelmsford, around 1.15am on Friday, September 15.

A man inside the property challenged Slater, who ran from the scene with a bag full of items, including a phone.

Officers identified an address of interest in Woodhall Road and visited it at around 1.30am when they heard the victim’s phone ringing.

Slater was then seen through his window putting stolen property into his pocket and switched the lights off.

Officers then forced entry and arrested Slater inside before finding the victims’ stolen property.

Ds Neil Tremain, of Chelmsford CID, said: “Within 15 minutes of the burglary taking place, we located the suspect at his home.

“Slater received a shock when we knocked at his door and pretended that he wasn’t in. He put the phones in his pocket, switched his lights off and thought we’d just leave.

“He thought wrong and we forced entry to his home and arrested him.”