A BURGLAR felt the full force of the law after breaking into a house and fleeing wearing some of the occupant's clothes.

Kashif Judge was arrested, prosecuted and then sentenced, all in less than 36 hours.

He entered a home in Terminus Road, Littlehampton, shortly before 8am last Friday and grabbed clothes and mobile phones before he was disturbed by the woman who lived there.

The 42-year-old escaped wearing some of the victim's husband's clothes.

She gave a description of Judge to police, which was quickly circulated among officers on patrol to try to track him down.

Minutes later police were called to Tesco in Broad Piece, Littlehampton, where Judge had grabbed a bottle of wine from a shelf, took it into the toilets and started drinking it.

He became aggressive when staff challenged him and police arrived, matching Judge to the description given by the victim in Terminus Road.

Judge was arrested, questioned and then charged with the house break-in and stealing the wine.

The next day Judge, of Inwood Road, Liss, Hampshire, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft when he appeared at Brighton Magistrates' Court.

He was given a six-month suspended sentence, ordered to do 150 hours of community service and to pay £85 costs, an £80 victim surcharge and £257.99 compensation.

Detective Constable Jon Woolley said: "Judge was still wearing clothing stolen during the burglary when he was found at Tesco.

"The officers were able to match the first description given when he was in the house to the man they had stopped for the wine theft so Judge was questioned for both offences and admitted them.

"It is a great example of how quickly justice can be done."

If you have any information about burglaries or shops selling stolen goods, call 101 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk. For crime prevention advice visit www.sussex.police.uk.

If you see or hear a burglary taking place call 999 immediately.

Residents can also being encouraged to register their items on the world's largest property database so that if they are stolen, they can be reunited with the owners - and so the offenders can be prosecuted.

You can register your property in just a few minutes by visiting www.immobilise.com.