A SERIAL burglar has been jailed after being ‘caught red-handed’ by his victim in a Weymouth home.

Steven George Hill, of Carlton Road North, Weymouth was sentenced to 40 months in prison for burglary when he appeared before Dorchester Crown Court.

The 33-year-old admitted entering a house in Carlton Road South on April 7 and stealing two purses and two bottles of wine of unknown value. The court was told that the occupant of the property Michael Knight was at home during the burglary and managed to apprehend Hill.

Jennifer Rickman, prosecuting, said: “Mr Knight was at home and believed the back door to his house was closed but not locked.

“He heard floorboards creaking and the sound of a zip so he went to investigate and saw a man running away, which was the defendant.”

She told the court Mr Knight chased after Hill, pictured below, and pinned him to the ground in the back garden.

Miss Rickman said: “Mr Knight was trying to prevent Hill from escaping and in doing so he was hit on the head by a wine bottle and a piece of wood.

“The defendant took hold of a bottle of wine and threw it at Mr Knight, which hit him on the back of the head.

“They were both struggling together on the ground when Hill grabbed a piece of wood and hit Mr Knight with it.”

She added that Mr Knight kept hold of Hill until the police arrived and arrested him.

Miss Rickman said Hill had 23 previous convictions for 43 offences including shoplifting, theft and more than three other burglaries.

The court was told that Hill was on licence when he committed the offence after serving a three-year prison sentence for burglary.

In mitigation Robert Pawson said the defendant feared for his life when Mr Knight restrained him.

He said: “Mr Knight seized Hill and threw him to the ground, he thought he was going to die.

“Many people would think Mr Knight was well within his rights to seize a person who was in his house.”

Mr Pawson told the court the father-of-two had struggled with alcoholism, drug use and depression.

Judge Roger Jarvis told the defendant: “This was a brazen entry by you into a house which was plainly occupied and you had no regard to the distress caused to the occupants.

“You were caught as good as red-handed and of course the occupant tried to capture you and he held you firmly and this is what you should expect if you don’t go quietly. During that incident you threw something at the occupier and threatened him with a piece of wood – this is a very serious offence.”