A BURGLAR was caught in Sherwood after he was recognised by a police officer and a probation officer as they passed the scene of his crime.

Ziggy Marley stole car keys and a wallet when a resident left them on top of his fridge in his home in Perry Road.

The man had been outside washing his Volkswagen Passat when he went inside to use the toilet, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

When he returned, he saw the items were missing from his kitchen and went outside to investigate.

Marley was sat in the driver's seat of his car. He ran off when he saw the resident and pulled up the hood on his top.

The two officers recognised 21-year-old Marley, of Belconnen Road, Bestwood, as they passed in an unmarked police car on their way back from court.

The householder reported the burglary to police, and officers were subsequently alerted on their radios.

The officers in the car realised it was Marley, who has 12 convictions for burglaries, and turned back.

He was stopped but looked different because he had turned his jacket inside out.

He even tried to deny he was responsible and claimed the police and probation officers' statements were false.

But by the time the case was sent to the crown court, he had chosen to plead guilty to the burglary in July. He asked for other offences to be taken into consideration, where he had sold stolen goods for cash.

He was given just under two years and five months in prison.

Gregor Purcell, mitigating, said Marley's girlfriend was heavily pregnant with his first child and his client would not be there for the birth.

At the time of the burglary he said Marley did not seek a confrontation and was trying to take the satellite navigation system from the car in order to get ready cash.

The judge said he had read letters from Marley, his sister and partner.

He also took into account how in Marley's letter he described the impact his behaviour would have on his life.