A "MEAN" burglar who stole a man's hard-earned collection of tools has been spared jail.

Jamie Jones, of Chester Road West in Queensferry, appeared for sentence at Mold Crown Court on Wednesday.

The 36-year-old had previously admitted one offence of burglary.

Amy Edwards, prosecuting, told the court complainant Stuart Bowhill owned a bungalow in Buckley - which he was renovating, but didn't live in.

On May 16 this year, he arrived at the address to find the door ajar.

The glass in the back door had been smashed and on closer inspection, a number of items had been taken.

They included a mountain bike and an assortment of tools worth some £1,000.

Jones was identified as the perpetrator through CCTV and when police attended his home, Mr Bowhill's bike was found there - broken down into parts.

When arrested, the defendant was found to have some of the stolen tools too.

A couple of weeks after the burglary, the defendant's mother contacted police to ask if he could return some of the stolen goods.

On July 8, Jones attended Llay Police Station and returned five of the stolen items, including a heat gun and drill bits.

The Leader:

He signed a note to confirm he'd returned them, writing "I'm really sorry" at the bottom.

In his victim statement, read to the court by Ms Edwards, the complainant said he was shocked at the offence.

The tools took him many years of hard work to accumulate, he said.

Thomas McLoughlin, defending, told the court: "The best I can say is that the defendant is clearly very sorry.

"Writing it on the bottom of the returns slip, I suggest, shows it's not empty words, but how he genuinely feels.

"Something has gone badly wrong in his life and he has turned to drugs.

"It's with that background that I submit this offence has happened.

"Between the offence and today's hearing, very positive work has started and continues to be done.

"Mr Jones is getting on with addressing his substance misuse issues.

"He's a strong prospect for rehabilitation."

Judge Niclas Parry told the defendant: "This was a mean, pre-planned offence against a hard working man.

"The tools of his trade, amassed over probably a very long time... lost.

"They weren't luxuries. He needed those to do a decent day's work.

"This was a dwellinghouse and you have numerous previous convictions.

"You were acting under the influence of drugs, but in mitigation I give you maximum credit for pleading guilty.

"Mercifully this property was unoccupied and I have regard to the apology you sent, together with the return of some of the items."

Judge Parry handed down a sentence of 12 months imprisonment, but suspended it for 12 months.

The defendant must undertake 140 hours of unpaid work and a drug rehabilitation requirement.

He must also pay a £500 contribution towards compensation.