A BURGLAR has been put behind bars after a resident filmed him on a mobile phone breaking into a neighbour’s home.

The repeat offender was later confronted by police officers with the footage of him caught in the act.

Dorchester Crown Court heard how Mark Anthony Collins broke into a Weymouth bungalow and helped himself to two laptops, an iPod, a camera, cufflinks and a watch.

At the same time Collins, 42, was being filmed by an observant neighbour in Melcombe Avenue.

Prosecutor Desmond Duffy said: “Just before 1pm on May 19, neighbours heard glass breaking and the defendant was seen at the back door of the premises.

“The neighbours could see that Mr Collins had gained access to the house.

“One of the neighbours called the police while another kept Mr Collins under observation and filmed him with a mobile phone.”

Minutes after police officers were summoned, landscape gardener Collins was arrested in a nearby car park.

A red rucksack containing the stolen items, which had been abandoned by Collins, was retrieved.

Mr Duffy added: “Mr Collins was taken to the police station, interviewed and shown footage of the burglary taken with the mobile phone.”

A judge heard that Collins, who pleaded guilty to burglary, has appeared in court 31 times since 1979.

The former Brighton resident burgled the Weymouth home after serving five years in prison. He was released last summer Collins was given a conditional discharge for an incident in a pub last month.

He travelled to Weymouth to visit a friend, solicitor Mark Ruffell said.

He added: “Mr Collins had £40 when he arrived, but in a short period of time he ran out of money.

“Mr Collins stayed with a friend in a tent, was getting drunk and having arguments.

“He decided to commit a burglary to find some money. He said he had given up.

“It was more or less inevitable that he would get caught. He was spotted by two neighbours before he even smashed the window.

“He said he should have stayed in Brighton. It was a flash decision and he’s lost everything.”

Collins was sentenced to 34 months and was told he would serve 17 months of it in prison and the remainder on licence.