by Paul Hooper

A Ramsgate man tackled a burglar after coming face-to-face with him in his home, a court has heard.

Householder John Hall returned to his house in Westcliff Road in September to find the front door smashed in.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how, as he walked upstairs, he was confronted by thief Tristan Wood, 37, carrying away stolen jewellery, a camera, a bracelet and a watch.

Prosecutor Bridget Todd said: "He confronted Todd and tackled him. The bag he was carrying fell to the floor and the property was strewn everywhere."

She said Wood managed to escape and ran away, only to leave his own bag inside the house containing his name and personal details.

Police officers later spotted heroin addict Wood, of no fixed address, hiding behind a tree in Marlborough Road.

He later admitted charges of burglary and possessing amphetamine and was jailed for 18 months.

Wood, who had been released from a jail sentence shortly before the burglary, claimed he had nowhere to live and had been looking for a place to sleep.

Ms Todd added: "This must have been a terrifying ordeal for Mr Hall. Fortunately his wife had not been present when he confronted the burglar."

Laura Phillips, defending, said: "Wood is very sorry for what he did – in particular for having confronted the victim in his home. But he is not a professional burglar."

Judge Nigel Van Der Bijl said that "struggling with Mr Hall" to get away made the offence "much worse in many ways".

He told Wood: "You have a terrible record."

Wood replied: "I'm very sorry for that."