An Isle of Wight window fitter whose attempts to burgle a property were foiled after he was caught on camera by the homeowner and detained by a neighbour has been spared jail.

Joe Male, of Sandown Road, Lake, appeared at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Tuesday, April 30.

At a previous hearing in February, the 24-year-old admitted attempted burglary with intent to steal and possession of a class B drug, namely ketamine, on February 20 of last year.

Prosecutor, Tim Devlin, said Male tried to break into a property in Lake and cameras alerted the householder, who was visiting the mainland at the time, to someone on their property.

He said two men were seen walking around the garden, and one – Male – produced something ‘shiny’ from his rucksack and tried to enter through the front door.

Mr Devlin said the homeowner called an acquaintance who attended the property and Male made a run for it.

The court heard he scaled a fence and was caught on the other side and restrained until police arrived.

Mr Devlin said Male – a window fitter at the time – told police he had tools in his rucksack for work and was wandering around the garden looking for his scooter.

Various tools were found in his rucksack, including an adjustable wrench, a spanner, screwdrivers and a pair of pliers.

A total of 29 Ketamine capsules were also seized, which Male claimed were fake Valium.

In a victim personal statement, read out in court, the homeowner described how the incident had made him paranoid, vulnerable and insecure, constantly checking his cameras.

Oliver Hirsch, defending, said the second male was not involved.

He said Male did not set out to commit a burglary, and it was not an offence carried out at the dead of night, but rather at 7.50pm.

Mr Hirsch told the judge it was an impulsive action, Male was lightly convicted – two convictions for two offences – and undiagnosed mental disorders together with a habit for ketamine may have reinforced compulsive behaviours.

Male was made subject of an 18-month community order, to include 200 hours of unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation days.