AN 84-year-old former Leigh soldier forgave a traumatised young guardsman who broke into his house.

A Journal cutting reporting how Harry Rigby had found burly Grenadier Guardsman Lee Hulmes asleep in his back bedroom was shown to Bolton Crown Court.

But when the plucky pensioner heard that Hulmes was suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome from horrific events he had witnessed while serving in Bosnia -- he forgave him.

And Judge Bruce Macmillan said he was impressed by the pensioner's generosity and also accepted that Hulmes was suffering from the effects of post-traumatic stress syndrome after reading a psychiatrist's report.

Hulmes, aged 24, of Monsall Avenue, Salford, had previously admitted burglary and Judge Macmillan jailed him for nine months suspended for two years.

The court heard that the former Grenadier Guardsman had been acting bizarrely since his return from serving in the Balkans.

On the night of the offence Hulmes drank 20 pints of lager and then broke into Mr Rigby's home in Leigh.

He thought it was the home of a friend but then decided to steal things when he realised it was not his friend's house after all.

As he staggered in a drunken stupor from room to room he came across the old man asleep in bed and overcome with remorse he decided to put all the things back he was planning to steal.

But then he became tired and went to sleep in the spare bedroom only to be found the following morning by a startled Mr Rigby.

The pensioner had seen bloodstains on the door and went inside the room and pulled back the covers he found Hulmes curled in a foetal position wearing just his trousers. The brave old soldier told Hulmes to stay where he was while he got dressed and when Hulmes put on his shirt and attempted to leave he grabbed him by the collar and shouted for help.

Neighbours arrived and while they waited for the police Mr Rigby searched Hulmes' pockets and found £3.17p which he knew he had left downstairs. He also discovered that Hulmes was holding his cigarettes and lighter.

Hulmes later told police that he felt "dreadful" when he realised he had broken into an old man's home. He asked the police to pass on his sincere apologies to Mr Rigby.