A Deal man returned home to find a burglar walking out of his property carrying stolen items... claiming he had been there visiting friends.

Startled Stephen Gay then recruited some neighbours, formed a posse, and went hunting the raider.

And when they caught the thief, Benjamin Negal, he pleaded: “Please don’t call the police... I’ll do a four stretch.”

Now Negal, 37, of Freemans Way, has been jailed for three years and four months after admitting the break-in.

Prosecutor Jim Harvey told Canterbury Crown Court how Mr Gay left his home in Manor Road, Deal on January 5 to go to work.

“He returned home at 5.30pm and pulled his car onto the driveway when he noticed all the house lights were on.

“He was wondering what was going on when he saw Negal exiting through a side door carrying two large bags” - Prosecutor Jim Harvey

“He was wondering what was going on when he saw Negal exiting through a side door carrying two large bags.”

Negal then told the confused homeowner he had been at the property visiting friends before running away into St Leonards Road.

The prosecutor added that Mr Gay then noticed a panel had been smashed and realised he had confronted the burglar.

“He ran after him and saw some friends and they all got into a car and followed Negal who tried to dodge the posse by doubling back.

“Mr Gay jumped out of the car and grabbed Negal’s jacket.

One of Mr Gay’s friends then spoke about calling the police and Negal pleaded: "Please don’t call the police... I’ll do a four-stretch. I will pay you for the damage’," added Mr Harvey.

Negal, who was on prison licence for previous burglaries, did manage to slip his jacket and ran away leaving the stolen items behind, Canterbury Crown Court heard.

Inside the bags, Mr Gay discovered jewellery, CDs and other items, which had been taken after Negal had ransacked his home and his son’s bedroom.

Police officers later retrieved Negal’s jacket and discovered keys which fitted his nearby home.

After he was arrested he refused to take party in an identity parade and, despite his blood being found in the bedroom, denied being the burglar – but later changed his plea to guilty.

Kerry Waitt, defending, said: “I am specifically instructed by the defendant now to apologise to the victim of the burglary, the court and the police.

“He had only been released on licence from prison in November and he is at a loss to explain how he has found himself in the position he is today. “