A burglar was punched in the face after stealing high-value items from a homeowner while he slept.
Terry Joseph Howrihane claimed he was “waiting for a friend” having just stolen a laptop, trolley jack and multi-tool from a garage in Lander Close, Poole.
The 46-year-old made a xenophobic remark before the homeowner punched Howrihane in the face, causing him to flee.
Bournemouth Crown Court heard how Matthew Clemitson was walking to his father's home at around 10.15pm on April 8 when he noticed the garage door open and a man “rummaging through” various items.
Alex Kettle-Williams, prosecuting, told the court on July 7 how the homeowner’s son initially thought the defendant was one of his father’s friends but, upon waking his father, discovered it was not.
Father and son searched the area to find Howrihane sitting on a chair in their neighbour’s front garden.
Howrihane said he was waiting for a friend before using vulgar language towards the pair.
Mr Clemitson punched the defendant twice causing him to run away.
A short while later, they saw the defendant sitting in the driver’s seat of another neighbour’s car. After again being confronted, Howrihane fled but dropped a glucose kit he had attempted to steal from the vehicle.
Police arrived and found personal effects belonging to Howrihane as well as all the stolen goods – before locating the burglar hiding behind a bin.
The defendant, who has 51 convictions from 97 offences and pleaded guilty, wept in the dock as the prosecution outlined his offending.
Richard Martin, mitigating, said his client was homeless at the time and a long-term drug addict.
He said Howrihane was making good strides to combat his drug addiction and was “ripe for rehabilitation” according to probation officers.
Mr Martin said: “This is clearly a person who was not in a good place.
“He finds himself physically free of addiction, but what he’s not free of is the mental addiction.
“It seems the stars are aligned and there is a real prospect [of rehabilitation].”
Ahead of sentencing, Recorder Hannah Willcocks KC said: “You are, I accept, in an unusual place at this stage and it seems the time is right now where rehabilitation is a very real prospect.”
Recorder Willcocks KC said she intended to pass a sentence of 18 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, but adjourned sentencing until July 13 when the defendant's probation-approved accommodation could be secured.
Howrihane was remanded in custody.
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