A JUDGE has praised the bravery of a schoolboy who came face-to-face with a burglar when he was home alone.

Cameron Harrison, of Snowshill Close, Blackpole, Worcester, was asleep at his home at 8am on May 25 when he was woken by the sound of someone breaking into the house.

Worcester Crown Court was told that ‘someone’ was an accomplice of 37-year-old Darren Dowie, of Chatcombe Drive, Worcester, who fled after being confronted by the brave teenager.

And Judge Richard Rundell said the youngster had acted “extremely bravely” when he gave chase after being disturbed by the intruder.

Dowie pleaded guilty to the burglary but claimed that an accomplice, who was not before the court, had been the person in the house. This was accepted by the prosecution.

Dowie, said to have extensive convictions for dishonesty, was jailed for two years.

Prosecutor Michael Conry said Dowie was arrested soon after the burglary and most of the valuable stolen property, including two laptop computers, jewellery and cash, had been recovered.

The court heard Dowie had one previous conviction for burglary but was jailed for six years in 2000 for robbery.

He was also given a 20-month sentence in April last year for attempted burglary and was released three months before his latest offence.

Matthew Barnes, mitigating, said Dowie had been at an emotional low ebb on the day of the burglary because of the break-up of his relationship with a long-term girlfriend.

He had a chaotic lifestyle and was relying on diazapan and alcohol to sustain him, Mr Barnes said.

However, he was not a career burglar, he said.

He had visited the house in Snowshill Close before because he knew a member of the family and he was extremely distressed for disturbing a 13-year-old boy.