A MAN who burgled a house while the householder slept upstairs has been jailed for 14 months.

Caine Bowers also took the car off the drive after pinching the keys along with the occupant's work laptop and handbag.

And the 20-year-old, who claimed he was just trying doors in the cul-de-sac after a night out drinking, was caught behind the wheel of the vehicle a day later.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how the occupant had gone to bed at her home in Bradene Close, Royal Wootton Bassett, on the night of Wednesday, October 19.

She said the woman woke at about 6.30am the following morning and felt a cool draft coming from the open front door.

She then noticed her work computer and handbag were missing and that her VW Passat had been taken from the drive.

Miss Squire said very shortly after her bank card was used in a garage for a contactless payment of £22.58 and CCTV images from there showed Bowers using it.

The following day, at about 2am, she said police spotted the vehicle being driven in Cricklade Road and gave chase.

Following a short pursuit on to Kembrey Street, where the car stopped and four people ran from the vehicle.

The driver was chased on foot and caught after scaling a high wire fence into the yard of the Dick Lovett car dealership.

Bowers, of Windmill Piece, Chiseldon, pleaded guilty to burglary, fraud and taking without consent.

The court heard that he had a long history of crime for a young man with robbery, attempted robbery, offences of violence and car crime.

Alex Daymond, defending, said his client accepted he was facing a jail term for what he had done so was not seeking a pre-sentence report.

He said it was the first time he had been convicted of burglary and the break in was not a sophisticated offence, but an impulsive one.

"He had been drinking, on his way home he tried some doors fully intending to get a car to get home," he said.

"This was the first door he tried. It was open. No force was used. He said he was in there for a matter of seconds."

After taking the car he said he showed his lack of planning by using the stolen card and getting caught on camera with it.

"He also says he realises what he did that evening would have an impact on the residents," he said.

Judge Tim Mousley QC said: "These are all serious offences and inevitably, as anyone realises, means you are going to a Young Offenders' Institute today.

"This offence was committed at night time, the premises were occupied which puts you in a category of greater harm.

"The offences of taking and driving away the Passat is a serious one in my view and typical of the total disregard you are prepared to take of other people's property and another instance of you behaving in that way."

As well as jailing him for 14 months he also banned him from the road for 18 months.