A public-spirited neighbour who confronted three burglars in Northampton during an early-hours break-in has been awarded £250 from public funds.
Neil Andrews, of Hunsbury, Northampton , was praised by Judge Richard Bray at Northampton Crown Court today while sentencing Adam Kightley, 23, for the burglary.
Rachel Law, prosecuting, said Mr Andrews was returning home at 1.45am on March 31, after a Saturday night out, when he spotted Kightley in Cinnamon Close, East Hunsbury.
She said: “ He was standing outside a neighbour’s house and had three mountain bikes on the ground near him. He went back into his house but was suspicious so looked out of the window and saw another male using a torch in his neighbour’s garage.
“He went out and asked if they were stealing bikes and the defendant said he was waiting for someone called Steve so Mr Andrews knocked on his neighbour’s door to say there was someone in his garage.”
The court heard that when the neighbour discovered his £450 mountain bikes was missing, Kightley and his accomplices ran off but were chased by Mr Andrews as they abandoned the stolen bike.
Miss Law added: “One of the other males was carrying a set of bolt cutters and swung them at Mr Andrews, who ran away but was hit in the back suffering a cut, but not by this defendant.”
Kightley, of London Road, Far Cotton, Northampton, who was previously jailed for 18 months in 2009 for burglary, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment.
Judge Bray said: “This was a night-time burglary where the householder was asleep.
“I bear in mind your basis of plea that you did not play a major role but nevertheless this was a plainly planned enterprise involving several people and one who had bolt cutters.
“You have a poor record including for burglary and were given 18 months last time.
“There must be a custodial sentence.
The judge added: “I would like to make an award out of public funds to the neighbour Neil Andrews, who interrupted the burglary and attempted to tackle the burglars, at some risk to himself.”
David Everett, mitigating, said: “The defendant made is clear to the police and to the court that he initially did not want to be involved and only went along because one of them was his brother and wanted to ensure his brother did not get into any trouble.
“Unfortunately, that meant he got into trouble himself.
“Tragically, his baby son died a week or so before this offence and and has a ffected him and his partner greatly. They have not been able to bury their son yet because of the long, protracted police investigation which does not seem to be going anywhere, not surprisingly perhaps.”
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