A MAN has been jailed after attempting to steal a screwdriver, clothing, a watch, cash and razor blades from a property in Poole.

At around 1.30pm on March 11, police were alerted by a resident that a man was acting suspiciously in the street.

Officers arrived and were told the man, Colin Michael Jeffery, had gone to the rear of a neighbouring property.

The 43-year-old, who is of no fixed abode, was seen running out through the conservatory doors of the property and into the rear garden.

He attempted to leave the scene by climbing over a garden fence, but an officer chased after him and was able to detain him.

Jeffery admitted a charge of burglary and was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court to three years and four months in prison on April 9.

Detective constable Christian Bryant, of Dorset Police’s priority crime team, said: “Thanks to the resident alerting us to Colin Jeffery’s suspicious activity and the rapid response by officers, we were able to detain the offender at the scene and secure the return of the victim’s property.

“We appreciate the distress that can be caused by having an intruder force their way into your home and we will do all we can to ensure those who commit burglaries are identified and held accountable for their actions.”