Drunk burglar broke into Craven Arms homes
A drunk burglar who broke into two homes in a Shropshire village was rounded up by suspicious residents.
Christopher Gower, 39, of Bromfield Road, Ludlow, was so drunk he could not remember carrying out the offences in Heath, near Craven Arms on February 26, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told.
Mr Kevin Jones, prosecuting, said Gower smashed a window to get into the first property while the owner was out picking up her children from school.
He stole goods worth £1,500 although most of them were recovered later.
Gower broke a window to gain entry to the second property and stole a tablet computer which was later recovered.
Mr Jones said Gower was drunk and had raised suspicions among locals because he was wearing a fluorescent jacket and standing with a strimmer.
He was challenged by suspicious residents concerned about what he was doing in the village.
Mr Jones said: "There were efforts by local residents to round this defendant up.
"He was found and detained by a number of members of the public in a field and the police were called."
Mr Brendan Reedy, for Gower, said his client was full of remorse and had made efforts to address his drink problem.
He said Gower was working and looking to get his life back on track.
Mr Recorder Stuart Sprawson told Gower the mother and her children would have been "horrified and terrified" when they came back from school to find out they had been burgled.
The court heard Gower had admitted the two burglaries in the village of Heath near Craven Arms.
On Friday he was given an 18-month supervision order, ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and given a six-month alcohol treatment order.
He must also pay a £60 court surcharge, £250 court costs, and compensation to his first victim of £200 and compensation to the second householder of £75.
Mr Recorder Stuart Sprawson told Gower to make sure he addressed his alcohol problem.
