TWO burglars have been jailed after being caught breaking into a house by a passing member of the public.
Gareth Alexander Romans, 40, of Vere Street, Barry and Josh Oliver Wilding, 27, of Holton Road, Barry, appeared via video link at Cardiff Crown Court last week having both pleaded guilty to burglary and possession of the class B drug amphetamine. 
The pair were caught following an incident in Wenvoe Terrace in Barry on Saturday, December 10, at 8.15am. 
A report was received from a member of the public whose husband had noticed that a door on the street looked as if it had been kicked in.
The owner of the property was not there and the house had been unoccupied for several days.
Prosecutor Rachel Knight told the court: "She called the police as she was concerned that there was damage and once she had called the police she saw two men.
"She gave a description of them and said she saw one of them leave the house and walk down Porthkerry Road before she lost sight of him as he got to the woods.
"He was carrying something in a plastic bag and she did not know where the other man was."
Ms Knight told the court that the police then arrived and detained both men nearby.
They recovered a bag which contained perfume, clothing and a drill amongst other items and they were both in possession of a small quantity of amphetamine.
Romans has 63 previous court appearances for 120 offences including 57 for theft. 
Wilding has appeared 27 times for 61 offences of which 41 were related to offences including burglary and theft. 
Adam Sharp defending Romans said this incident was an case of "opportunism" saying the damage to the door was low to moderate.
Mr Sharp said: "He accepts he entered the building and took property and has co-operated with police and pleaded guilty.
"This is the first offence he has committed since his release in November and he said he was ill prepared for release.
"He was put in supported accommodation with other drug addicts and says he was using heroin again within seven days.
"He has shown regret and remorse and feels he is better off in custody."
Peter Harding-Roberts for Wilding asked the judge to consider the minimum sentence possible for him and to take into account his guilty plea.
In sentencing, Judge David Wynn Morgan took into account their pleas and said Romans had a "formidable record" and sentenced him to 24 months in prison.
Wilding was given a sentence of 876 days in prison.