Pensioner chased burglar who had sneaked into his home and caught him with the help of postman

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Retired Kenneth Marshall, 78, was working in his greenhouse when Thomas Holland crept into his home and stole jewellery and alcohol

A pensioner chased a burglar who snuck into his home while he was in his greenhouse and managed to catch him with the help of a postman.

Kenneth Marshall, 78, spotted Thomas Holland as he tried to escape after stealing jewellery and alcohol and he gave chase.

Holland tried to tell the postman Mr Marshall was a “crazy old man” but the pair managed to stop him and searched him for stolen items.

Cardiff Crown Court heard the incident occurred in Marion Street in Newport on Tuesday, September 19.

John Warren, prosecuting, said retired Mr Marshall was working in his greenhouse at the time.

The defendant saw Mr Marshall’s wife and daughters leave the house and snuck in through the back door.

He helped himself to a bottle of cherry brandy and a bottle of Baileys before heading upstairs and stealing jewellery from the bedrooms.

Mr Warren told the court the defendant then became trapped inside as Mr Marshall was peeling vegetables at the kitchen sink by the only door.

The court heard Holland tried to get out anyway and was seen by the complainant, who chased him down the street.

He then chased the defendant in his car and managed to detain him with the assistance of a postman.

Mr Warren said he was concerned the burglar had stolen his daughter’s laptop and let him go once he realised he did not have it.

The court heard his wife and daughters came back from shopping, realised the bedrooms had been “ransacked”, and called the police.

Holland handed himself in at Newport Police Station at 4.15pm and gave officers the jewellery and alcohol.

He said he had been to The Hub homeless centre in Newport earlier that day to ask for help with his heroin addiction.

When he was told it would take two weeks for a methadone prescription he decided to burgle a house to get money for drugs.

The defendant told police he had recently inherited £4,000 but spent it all on heroin and did not care if he got caught.

He stated he wanted to go to prison to “sort himself out” and get help for his addiction.

Prosecutors said he had been before the courts for nearly 70 previous offences, including 47 for theft.

Judge Thomas Merfyn Hughes QC noted he was jailed for 10 years in 2000 for a “serious” robbery.

Holland, 58, who does not have a fixed address, admitted burglary.

Stephen Thomas, defending, argued there was not a significant amount of planning, describing the burglary as “opportunistic”.

He said his client made “full and frank” admissions in interview.

Mr Thomas told the court the defendant had been addicted to heroin for 22 years and accepted he had a “long history” of offending.