Burglar held captive by angry householder

A BURGLAR caught red-handed by a retired homeowner was punched in the face and held captive until police arrived.

High on drink and drugs, Troy Hamlett broke into the house in Heath Road, Eastville, in the early hours of the morning but was confronted by Dennis Fanty, who arrived home to find the burglar leaving his living room.

After realising what was going on Mr Fanty punched Hamlett, 30, and shouted for his wife to call the police.

His captive managed to escape at one point but Mr Fanty raced after him and collared him just as police arrived.

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Hamlett, of Fishponds Road, later pleaded guilty to burglary and was jailed at Bristol Crown Court for 12 months.

Nadeem Aullybocus, prosecuting, said Hamlett had been discovered by Mr Fanty at 2.45am on May 1 this year.

"He entered his home and found a white male walking out of his front room," Mr Aullybocus said.

"He asked the defendant what on earth he thought he was doing and he replied he had got the wrong house.

"Mr Fanty says the defendant tried to push past him but Mr Fanty resisted this and grabbed hold of the defendant.

"Mr Fanty accepts that to subdue him he punched the defendant to the face.

"He then grappled with the defendant and they went to the floor. Mr Fanty was shouting for his wife, who was asleep upstairs, to call the police.

"At one stage Mr Fanty thinks the police have arrived so he lets go of the defendant. The defendant ran out, chased by Mr Fanty and jumps the fence of a neighbouring garden but is caught by Mr Fanty and held until police arrive."

Mr Aullybocus said that an examination of the front room found items including games consoles and a television had been unplugged ready for moving by Hamlett.

He added that Mr Fanty's wife Joy had been left very shocked by the incident and could not believe somebody had been in her house while she was asleep.

Hamlett had a previous record for burglary as well as convictions for possession of an offensive weapon, threatening behaviour and assault.

Darren Burleigh, defending, said his client did not try to push past Mr Fanty but accepted the discrepancy would not make a difference to sentence, adding that Hamlett had no intention of pressing assault charges against Mr Fanty.

"He has thought about his position and he is not going to pursue any action against Mr Fanty," Mr Burleigh said.

"This is because he knows it is his fault that he finds himself here and not the fault of his victim.

"I would submit this shows an awareness of the impact on victims in cases like these.

"He understands why what happened did happen."

Mr Burleigh said Hamlett burgled the property to fund a drugs habit that started before he was even a teenager and that when he undertook the offence his mind was "pickled".

"However he has taken full responsibility and displayed a high level of remorse," Mr Burleigh.

"He would even like the opportunity to meet his victims, showing I would say courage with a small 'c'."

Judge Neil Ford QC told Hamlett said: "As you know, this type of offence greatly affects the confidence of homeowners.

"Anything other than an immediate custodial sentence could not be justified."