A hotel worker accused of burglary after he was discovered in the bedroom of a Suffolk holiday home has chosen not to give evidence during

hs trial.

Lee Healy, 38, of Seaward Avenue, Leiston, who has two previous convictions for burglary, was arrested in August after being chased by Molly Seighart, the owner of the property in Benthills, Thorpeness and her 16-year-old daughter.

Healy had been sitting on a scooter further down the road when Mrs Seighart grabbed him by the sleeve of his jacket to stop him driving off, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

Healy had allegedly tried to drive away but Mrs Seighart still had hold of his jacket and he came off the bike, said Joanne Eley, prosecuting.

Other people arrived on the scene of the commotion and the police were called. Miss Eley said that when police officers arrived Healy complained that Mrs Seighart had damaged his bike and claimed he had gone to the house in question to visit some friends he thought were staying there.

Miss Eley said that after Healy was arrested he claimed he had been injured as a result of falling from his bike and a paramedic was called to examine him.

During police interviews he claimed he had met some people in a pub who said they were staying at a house in Bent Hill and he had decided to call in and see them on his way to work.

He claimed the front door of the property had been half open and he had decided to go in and look for his friends after calling out and not getting a reply. He had walked down the corridor and had gone into a bedroom when a teenage girl walked in.

Healy has denied burglary with intent to steal.

The court heard yesterday that Healy, who was working as a kitchen porter at the White Lion Hotel in Aldeburgh, had two previous convictions for burglary in 2005.

Healy chose not to give evidence or call any evidence and the jury is expected to retire to consider its verdict today (Wed).