A BURGLAR was jailed for a break-in just minutes after a jury at Worcester Crown Court acquitted him of another house raid and witness intimidation.

At the end of a trial, Simon Lander, 24, of Burlish Crossing, Stourport, pleaded guilty to a house burglary in Worth Crescent in the town.

His fingerprints were found on a forced back door. He also admitted eight other thefts.

His two-and-a-half year prison sentence was imposed after a jury found him not guilty of breaking into a flat in Windermere Court, Stourport, stealing a hi-fi system and allegedly intimidating a witness three times by threats.

Brett Stevenson, prosecuting, said Lander was on bail when he broke into the Worth Crescent address on May 10. Damage to the door totalled £100 and £633 worth of property was stolen.

Lander was arrested on May 28 and claimed he only stole a video recorder, not jewellery and cash. He admitted eight thefts from garden sheds and the grounds of garden centres.

His list of previous convictions included assault, shoplifting and obstructing police. He had served jail terms for burglary.

Michael Aspinall, defending, said Lander committed offences to fund a heroin habit but had ceased taking drugs during five months on remand in prison.

Lander did not give evidence during his trial for the alleged break-in at the home of David Lloyd in Windermere Court.

But he denied to police threatening to break the legs of Ashley O'Mahoney, who claimed in a witness statement he saw Lander leaving the burgled premises carrying a square object under his jacket.

It was revealed during the trial that Mr O'Mahoney was a former drug addict, had a police record and had served a jail sentence.