A burglar who stole a television set from a friend's house while wearing an electronic tag was caught on CCTV.
Ryan Smith had often been invited into the woman's home as a guest and a friend, Plymouth Crown Court was told, but he burgled her home and stole her 40-inch flat screen television set while she took her son to the dentist.
Nigel Hall, for the Crown Prosecution Service described how the woman had left her home in Kelly Close, Barne Barton, locking all her windows and doors.
He added she left a small vent window open for the cat.
She returned 30 minutes later and discovered that her television set had been taken and dirty footprints were left.
Later that day she went to a neighbour, whose CCTV footage showed Smith, of Wilkinson Road Barne Barton, loitering around the back of the house, where a court tag could be seen on his left ankle.
Mr Hall then described how the 22-year-old re-appeared in the footage carrying the television.
In a statement read to the court, the victim said: "The thought makes me physically sick. It's concerning and frightening for me and my children.
"I do not work and don't have a lot of money, so it's the only form of entertainment for my children."
The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to burglary on September 16, already having 12 convictions for 14 offences. He asked for an offence of shoplifting on the same day to be taken into consideration.
Ed Bailey, defending, described how Smith felt "genuine remorse" for "letting down a friend of three years".
He also added that Smith had claimed that he had been "out of his mind at the time" on a combination of drugs including heroin and Valium.
Recorder Tim Grice sentenced the burglar to
a nine-month prison term, suspended for two years, with 45 days of rehabilitation.
He said: "It's very easy to express resolutions to do better, but I'm not completely convinced by what's been said on your behalf."
Smith has been ordered to compensate the victim £350 in addition to court charges.
He was handed a three-and-a-half-year restraining order preventing him from going to Kelly Close or contacting his ex-friend.
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