VIDEO: Banged up burglar tries his luck but is caught by homeowner

Shaun Battye (42), who committed his first burglary aged 12, went on a ten-day crime spree in March when he targeted homes, Rotherham Hospital and a church diocese office.

Battye (pictured), of no fixed address, appeared via videolink from Doncaster Prison at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday for sentencing and was jailed for four years.

He admitted five counts of burglary, one of theft and four of fraud - all committed after he was released halfway through a 40-month prison sentence.

Mr Andrew Smith, prosecuting, said Battye stole bank cards, jewellery and cash from three homes in Brinsworth after walking in through unlocked doors.

Here's the moment homeowner Martyn Gulliver confronted Battye at his Bonet Lane house on March 14.

The thief told him he was there to deliver credit cards and handed him some before leaving.

On finding the cards were in the name “Donna Davies”, Mr Gulliver called the police.

But Battye’s offending did not end there - the following day, he burgled a house in Lister Street, Clifton, and stole jewellery including a watch.

His fingerprints were later found on a jewellery box.

Two days later, he stole a wallet containing £150 from an office at Rotherham Hospital and made purchases at Wilkos and Tesco Express.

The following day, Battye stole bank cards from another house and used them in convenience stores, where he was captured on CCTV.

He was arrested on March 24, the day he stole bank cards from Church House on Effingham Street, the central office for the Sheffield Diocese.

Battye, who was wearing the watch stolen from Clifton, admitted the thefts and fraud, saying he had been stealing to fund a drug habit. 

Mr Smith said his criminal record included 42 domestic burglaries and 21 “non-dwelling” offences.

Mrs Rebecca Tanner, mitigating, said Battye was “keen to break the cycle” and described him as “completely institutionalised and ill-equipped to deal with everyday life in the community”.

He took to sleeping rough in Clifton Park after being released from prison without any accommodation arranged and falling “back into old habits”.

After the hearing, Mr Gulliver (52), welcomed the sentence, adding: “Hopefully he will learn his lesson.”

The plumber said he had been “bamboozled” by Battye’s actions but had later viewed his CCTV footage, in which the thief was shown looking through his windows, and realised his intentions.

Mr Gulliver said he had tracked down Donna Davies online, who was previously unaware her cards had been stolen.

He insisted the incident had not left him scared, adding: “After meeting me, I don’t think he’ll be coming down my path again.”