A YOUNG woman smacked a burglar twice on the head when he apologised for stealing from her, a court was told yesterday.

Emma Finch, 21, hit out at Daniel Shotton, 19, when he went to her home to confess that he and a friend had broken in two days earlier.

Teesside Crown Court heard Shotton offered to compensate Miss Finch for stealing from her, but two months later he had failed to give her any money, so the police were called.

Shotton told police he and his friend were drunk when they accidentally broke Miss Finch's glass front door at her home in Park Avenue, Redcar on April 19 last year.

When they realised there was nobody at home he went inside and stole property.

Jamie Hill, defending, said: "Two days later, when he sobered up and feeling considerable regret, he went back to see her and to confess.

"She struck him quite firmly twice around the head and she chased him away."

Shotton of High Street, Redcar, was put on probation for two years yesterday after he pleaded guilty to burglary. He was also ordered to attend a Think First course.

Judge Peter Fox told him: "Burglars go to prison almost always. You are a rare exception because this is slightly different. You had the guts to go around a couple of days later to say you were sorry even though you chickened out of your promise to make things good."