Darren Sewell admitted one count of burglary

A hapless burglar was caught red handed carrying a stolen television . . . after escaping the scene of the crime by catching the bus.

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Neighbours of a farm house in Buxton Road, Spixworth, became suspicious when they saw Darren Sewell carrying a television out of the house while the owners were on holiday.

Prosecutor Oliver Haswell told Norwich Crown Court that Sewell stopped to ask a passerby where the nearest bus stop was before waiting for the number 10 to arrive to take him back to Noriwch.

He added: “The bus arrived early and Sewell asked the driver if he could be allowed on. He paid for a ticket and sat on the bus with the television on his lap.

“Villagers became suspicious and drove after the bus until it pulled over. They told the driver what was going on and the driver asked Mr Sewell if it was his television, he said ‘yes’.

“The driver contacted her supervisor and then called the police. Whether or not Sewell realised, he decided to get off the bus before his stop and was picked up by a silver sports car.

“Police pulled over the car and arrested Sewell. They found the television and the bus ticket.”

Sewell, 28, of Aylsham Road, Norwich, admitted one count of burglary. The court heard he has six previous convictions for burglary and has served several prison terms. He had been released for less than a month at the time of his latest offence on April 9.

Sewell told the court he broke into the house by pulling open the window. As well as the television he was carrying, he had stolen another set which he hid in bushes and jewellery which he buried in the ground.

He had planned to return at a later date to recover the property. When he was arrested, he showed officers where to find it.

Michael Clare, in mitigation, said his client was “clearly a complete amateur” and a “particularly useless burglar”.

Mr Clare added: “He has a drug habit and commits crime to pay for that. He is academically challenged but he does appreciate the harm he has caused to others.”

Judge Peter Jacobs sentenced Sewell to three-and-a-half years in prison.

He said: “There is no doubt that, to a certain extent, you planned this burglary. You wander around the streets looking for a place to burgle. You are clearly not a professional burglar but you are a persistent one.”