A sneak-in burglar who was disturbed and chased by a householder has been locked up for 18 months.

Bradford Crown Court heard today that 24-year-old Lee Rider had spent most of his adult life behind bars having served long prison sentences in the past for wounding with intent and burglary.

Prosecutor John Bull told the court Maureen Scott found Rider standing in her kitchen 20 minutes after she returned from work in January.

Rider, of Whytecote End, Wyke, fled from the cottage in Pot House Road, Wibsey, when Mrs Scott shouted at him but she could not keep up a chase.

When she got home Mrs Scott found that her handbag had been stolen and she described herself as feeling devastated, shocked and angry.

Rider was arrested a few days later and Mrs Scott picked him out during identification procedures.

Rider denied being involved in the offence until he appeared at court today and entered a guilty plea to the burglary charge.

His barrister Ian Howard said: “This offence was committed purely to acquire some property which could be sold to put some money in his pocket.”

The Honorary Recorder of Bradford Judge Stephen Gullick accepted that the burglary had been an opportunistic sneak-in type offence, but he pointed out that it had been aggravated by the fact that Rider was seen by the victim.

“It was a nasty offence involving the fact that she discovered a complete stranger in her house and her personal belongings were stolen,” said the judge.