Last updated at 16:51, Tuesday, 31 July 2012

A MAN came face-to-face with a burglar in his kitchen on Christmas Day – and recognised him as someone he used to work with.

A struggle followed between Stephen Greenhalgh and intruder Darren Ross at the house on Ramsden Dock Road on December 25, 2011.

The defendant had stolen items while in the house.

Ross, 43, of Devon Street, Barrow was given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with an order to carry out 200 hours unpaid work, when he appeared for sentence at Preston Crown Court yesterday after pleading guilty to burglary.

For two months, he will be on a nightly curfew, to run from 10pm-7am. And for two years he must not contact Mr Greenhalgh.

Mr Robert Golinski, prosecuting, said Mr Greenhalgh was going to his bathroom around midday when he was shocked to see the defendant moving downstairs.

He went to investigate and came face-to-face with Ross in the kitchen.

Mr Greenhalgh recognised Ross as they had worked together, but he hadn’t seen him for some months.

Mr Greenhalgh confronted him. Ross was described as having a bottle of whisky, which had been a Christmas present Mr Greenhalgh had received, in his pocket. He was extremely intoxicated and holding a hammer in his left hand.

Mr Greenhalgh checked Ross’ pockets and found front door keys as well as some DVDs.

The two men then struggled and at one point Mr Greenhalgh ended up shut out of his house, but got back in using a door key he had retrieved.

Ross then fled the address. Also taken was a set of Second World War binoculars that had belonged to Mr Greenhalgh’s father.

It emerged that around three hours earlier police had seen Ross lying in the street, in a drunken condition.

When he was arrested for the burglary Ross told police that he had taken methadone while inside Mr Greenhalgh’s home.

Defence barrister Mr Richard Hunt said Ross had gone there to confront Mr Greenhalgh, but while there, stole items.

He could not remember taking a wallet containing £600 cash, which went missing.

Mr Hunt said “He really had over indulged in the illicit drugs he had taken, which explains his total lack of memory of what really went on.

“He is adamant he didn’t go in to physically attack and wasn’t armed. But while inside the premises he himself felt scared. It was a bizarre set of affairs.”

First published at 16:11, Tuesday, 31 July 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk