A CALDICOT man caught red-handed burgling a house has been jailed for 29 months.

A neighbour called police after seeing 31-year-old Richard Simmonds in a house in the town on Saturday, November 28 last year.

When the police arrived they saw Simmonds fleeing from the back of the property.

Officers chased him and when they caught him found that he had a number of items.

Simmonds, who has previous convictions, admitted burglary and was remanded in custody.

He was given a jail sentence of two years and five months at a court hearing on Friday, January 8.

A spokesman for Gwent Police said: “The sentence handed down would not have been possible without the assistance of vigilant neighbours contacting the police to report the suspect and the swift attendance of the officers at the scene.

“This is not Simmonds’ first offence but it is hoped that he will use this time in prison to reflect and make changes to his lifestyle.”