A dozy burglar had an unexpected brush with the law after he broke into the home of a policeman who battered him – with a broomstick, a court heard.
Pc Wayne Griffin beat prolific burglar Gavin Wilkes, 27, around the head after he caught him breaking into his house on Christmas Day.
Prolific burglar Wilkes ran off but was arrested in hospital when he claimed he’d been attacked with a baseball bat.
Wilkes, who has 20 previous convictions, was sentenced to 10-months in prison suspended for two years after he admitted burglary at Oxford Crown Court.
He was also ordered to pay £200 compensation and told to carry out 60 hours unpaid work.
Nigel Ogborne, prosecuting, told the court dad-of-two Wilkes drank 12 cans of strong lager before he broke into PC Griffin’s conservatory at his home in Abingdon, Oxon.
He said: ”It is Christmas Day, it’s 11.15pm.
”Mr Griffin, an off-duty police officer, is at home no doubt enjoying the festivities with his wife. They hear something and eventually he goes into the conservatory.
”Pc Griffin’s dog is barking and it’s clear someone is or has attempted to gain entry to the premises.
”Pc Griffin looked up and saw Wilkes, half-in and half-out of a window. He panicked, grabbed a broomstick and hit Wilkes on his head.”
Pc Griffin chased Wilkes outside in bare feet and hit him once more with the broom before he ran away.
Mr Ogborne said Wilkes went to hospital, where he complained of being hit with a baseball bat.
He added: ”When a policeman came to take a statement, he ‘put two and two together’ and arrested him.”