A crime-busting hero dashed out of his house in the middle of the night wearing just a dressing gown to catch a burglar.

Lee Cuederc was having trouble sleeping when he got up and looked out of the window to see Robert Butchart coming out of a neighbour's house carrying two bottles of spirits.

Mr Cuederc chased Butchart along Beauchamp Avenue, Gosport, before catching up with him in an alleyway.

He forced the heroin addict to accompany him back to the house he burgled moments earlier before calling the police.

Butchart of Holland Place, Gosport, pleaded guilty to one charge of burglary.

Mr Cuederc's actions were praised by a judge. Sentencing 25-year-old Butchart to two years in prison, Judge Keith Cutler said: "You were only found because of the brave and public spirited actions of a neighbour who had the courage to tackle you."

Lincoln Brockes, prosecuting, told Portsmouth Crown Court how Butchart burgled the house in Beauchamp Avenue in the early hours of January 18.

He stole two bottles of spirits and a wallet which was later returned to the owners who were inside during the burglary.

The judge heard how Butchart told Mr Cuederc he had been visiting his grandfather.

John Reilly, mitigating, told the court there was in inextricable link between Butchart's repeat offending and his heroin addiction.

Judge Cutler also imposed a 15-week sentence on Butchart to run consecutively as he committed the burglary while on parole.

After the case DC Paul Diaper praised Mr Cuederc's actions: "He was absolutely brilliant. He chased after Butchart and brought him back from a dark alleyway back to the scene of the crime. Had it not been for his actions justice may not have been done."