A PENSIONER sent a burglar fleeing empty-handed from his home, a court was told yesterday.

Teesside Crown Court heard that the elderly man, who walks with the aid of a stick, discovered intruder Anthony Holtom in the bedroom of his Hartlepool home where he was packing a bag with stolen goods.

Jim Withyman, prosecuting, said the pensioner grabbed Holtom, 24, but he wriggled free and ran downstairs.

The court was told that Holtom, who was addicted to cocaine and heroin, also took part in two burglaries in which a minibus and Vauxhall Corsa were stolen.

Aisha Wadoodi, defending, said that Holtom voluntarily went to a drug treatment centre in Hartlepool, but because of the demand for the service he was only given a one-hour consultation.

The court heard that when Holtom's father died last year he fell back into his addiction, and he also owed money to loan companies after going heavily into debt to get married.

Holtom, of Challenor Road, Hartlepool, was jailed for three-and-a-half years after he pleaded guilty to two burglaries, four shoplifting offences, two thefts from business premises, and using a stolen credit card to obtain cigarettes and alcohol.

He also had four thefts taken into consideration.