TWO Coleford householders stood up to a prolific burglar when he targeted their homes in the early hours.

Daniel McDade broke into a house in Boxbush Road shortly after trying the front door of a house in nearby Bowen’s Hill Road.

The residents shouted to McDade to get out and kept him under observation as he left, Gloucester Crown Court heard.

It was McDade’s 25th appearance before a court.

McDade, of no fixed address, was jailed for 38 months after he admitted attempted burglary of the house in Bowens Hill Road and burglary at Boxbush Road.

Both offences were committed on July 5, at about 2am, said prosecutor Nicola Wood.

A woman in the house in Bowens Hill Road heard someone trying her front door handle and went into the hall to see McDade outside, said Ms Wood.

“The handle was pushed down and she shouted to him to go away. He walked off. She went outside and saw him under a lamppost at the junction with Boxbush Road.

“A short time later a man living in a house in Boxbush Road woke up and noticed his kitchen light was on. He went into the kitchen and realised the defendant was in the utility room.

“He shouted to him to get out. McDade left through the back door and the owner followed him and saw two bottles of champagne outside the door.

“They had come from his house. He followed McDade and watched him walk away.

“The next morning he realised that his partner’s purse had been taken together with three bank cards and driving licence.

“When arrested McDade admitted taking the purse and said there was £35 in it which he took out before discarding the purse.”

McDade had eight relevant previous convictions for burglary and was a ‘third strike’ offender, she said.

Sarah Jenkins, defending, said McDade was under the influence of drugs on the night in question.

“He feels that probably impacted his ability to make good decisions,” she said.

“He is very regretful for his actions. One of his close friends has been diagnosed with throat cancer which is terminal and it is very unlikely he will ever see that friend again because he will be in custody.”

Jailing McDade for a total of three years and two months, Judge Michael Cullum said “Your last ten years have largely been spent in custody. You are at real risk of wasting the whole of your life by committing further burglaries every time you have an opportunity to do so.

“I accept there is a drug addiction which causes you to have the need, as you see it, to break into peoples’ houses.

“You have a shameful record. This is your 25th court appearance.”