A DRUNKEN burglar who broke into a Worcester garage in a night-time raid was found hiding nearby eating a stolen tub of yogurt.

Benjamin Rogers, of Dur-ham Road, Worcester, also took a bottle of champagne, a drill and drill bits from the garage of a house in Kennet Green, Worcester, on January 30, this year.

The 28-year-old pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary and also to handling a stolen golf bag and clubs between January 20 and January 26.

Peter Grice, prosecuting, told Worcester Crown Court Rogers had been given the golf equipment and sold it on for £10. No evidence was presented on a charge of stealing the golf equipment and he was found not guilty.

At about 1am on January 30, he broke into the garage at the end-of-terrace home while the family was indoors. The door from the garage to the house was locked and he did not try to gain entry. He was seen by a neighbour as he left the garage and was found by police in bushes nearby, wearing a balaclava and with gloves and a torch.

Rogers had 19 convictions for 38 offences.

Jason Patel, defending, said Rogers had not been attempting to disguise himself with the balaclava as it left his face uncovered. He was “highly intoxicated” and when he was found by police, he had yogurt he had taken from the garage all over his gloves and his face. The other items were recovered.

He said Rogers had been a heroin addict for ten years and had been on methadone since October when he was last released from prison.

But, Mr Patel said, he had turned to drinking instead which had caused problems with his family and he was drunk and homeless when he carried out the burglary on the spur of the moment.

Judge Toby Hooper said the items were not of significant value but a break-in always had an impact on how safe people felt in their own homes. He said Rogers had been going equipped with the gloves and torch.

He had two previous convictions for house burglary which took him into the “three strikes” category with a three year minimum sentence but Judge Hooper said the sentence would be two years five months, minus time spent on remand. No separate penalty was given for the handling charge.