A DRUNKEN and bungling intruder was confronted by a householder when he dropped his torch down the stairs.

Burnley Crown Court heard how alcoholic Alan Newton, 41, still celebrating the new millennium on January 4, struggled with his victim, pushing him twice, but was wrestled to the floor and was still being restrained when police arrived.

Newton, who appeared to be nodding off in the dock, was asked by the judge if he was fit to carry on with the proceedings, but the defendant assured him he had not been asleep, but praying for the wrong he had done. Sending Newton to jail for 21 months, Recorder Alistair Webster QC, said he was not a very competent burglar. He said it was fortunate the complainant, who would now feel a loss of security, was not more seriously injured.

Newton, of Briercliffe Road, Burnley, earlier admitted burglary at the house in Ennismore Street, Burnley.

David Pickup, prosecuting, said the house occupant, at home working on his computer in a back room, heard a noise, looked up the stairs and saw the defendant. He asked Newton what he was doing and he said he had come to a party.

The defendant came down the stairs and pushed the householder into a radiator, which came away from its mountings and started to leak. A struggle began and the victim was pushed again, breaking a glass panel.

Newton was then wrestled to the floor, the complainant called out to neighbours for help and the police arrived.

Mr Pickup said jewellery worth £200, highly valued sentimentally, had gone missing and Newton hid most of it in the police van. Paul Hague, defending, said Newton had had a drink to fortify himself before coming into court. His pre sentence report made for depressing reading. Newton had been on a binge with friends, was drunk, had gone into the house in cheerful spirits and it had developed into a burglary.

The defendant was an alcoholic and drank every day on the streets. He would buy a bottle of orange juice, pour it out and then put his vodka in that bottle.