A BURGLAR caught red-handed stealing power tools by a homeowner after stealing his wife's purse confessed he was 'too lazy' to get a proper job.

Mark Biddle, who had a £50 a week cannabis habit, was caught stealing the power tools by a Worcester homeowner who saw his reflection in a television screen and gave chase, shouting at him to drop his haul. Biddle, who dropped a drill as he fled, had already stolen a purse belonging to the homeowner's wife after gaining access to the kitchen through an unlocked door.

The 19-year-old had already admitted three counts of burglary when he was sentenced by judge Nicolas Cartwright on Thursday.

He burgled the home in Brookside Road, Worcester, a shed at the same property and another shed at a different property.

Judge Cartwright told Biddle before he jailed him: "After being asked the direct question 'why weren't you working?' the answer was that you were 'too lazy to work'."

The judge said Biddle was on benefits and therefore had the money to live, telling him: "You did not need to go out committing burglaries. But you chose to smoke cannabis worth something like £50 per day but I accept what is said Mr Maxwell (his defence advocate) that it was £50 per week."

Lal Amarasinghe, prosecuting, said the burglaries happened on June 16. The homeowner, Mr Knight, saw Biddle's reflection in the television and chased after him, telling him to drop the stolen items.

Biddle stole Mrs Knight's purse and 'to add insult to injury' £800 of power tools from Mr Knight's shed.

In total £350 of items were stolen from another shed, including a tea set.

The stolen items were found in a nearby street and forensically examined. A sample of blood was found at a shed which enabled Biddle to be identified. Biddle was arrested on August 7, accepting entering a shed and taking property but denying the burglary.

However, he admitted all three burglaries at his first appearance in the crown court.

Biddle has 16 previous court appearances for 27 offences, receiving a short custodial sentence in January at Stafford Crown Court. He was subject to post-sentence supervision at the time of the Worcester burglaries.

Mr Amarasinghe said: "This is his first dwelling house burglary. An aggravating feature is that the occupier was present at the time."

Fergus Maxwell, defending, said: "Whilst he has an undesirable antecedent history he has no previous convictions for burglary on his record.

"It appears all three offences were committed at around the same time."

He said Biddle had forced entry to one of the sheds but not the house or the other shed. Mr Maxwell said: "Whilst these offences were committed on his own he's most active when other members of his family are at large. It seems that the cessation in offending may be in part linked to the fact that two other individuals referred to in the paper lost their liberty from August 8.

"It appears he has ceased offending and engaged positively."

Judge Cartwright said: "Burglary of a dwelling is always serious but particularly so where when the householders themselves find themselves surprised by a stranger committing a burglar in their house."

He said although all items were recovered the burglaries had been high value and involved 'greater harm' because the homeowner was present.

The judge sentenced him to be detained for eight months in a young offender institution.

Biddle of Summer Road, Kidderminster, shouted 'take me down then, I'm ready', 'love you both' and 'see you in a bit Johnny lad' as he was taken down into the cells.