A burglar has been jailed after a shocked home owner caught him red-handed as he rifled food from his freezer.
Richard Harrison had taken a mixture of legal highs and valium before setting out on a crime spree in which he raided three homes in the same morning.
The 44-year-old thief was caught in the act by householder Christopher Cornish who found him trying to steal food out of the freezer in his home in Milton Place, Bideford.
Harrison tried to lie his way out of trouble by telling him a friend had asked him to fetch something and he had gone to the wrong house but Mr Cornish called the police.
The Devon and Cornwall helicopter was launched to help the search which ended when Harrison was found in the garage of a house in Meddon Street.
He is a former heroin addict who was so wrecked on legal highs that he has no memory of carrying out the three burglaries, Exeter Crown Court was told.
Harrison, of Geneva Court, Bideford, who has also been living at Castle Hill Gardens, Torrington, admitted three burglaries, escape from custody, and asked for the theft of two charity tins to be considered.
He was jailed for nine months by Judge Kevin de Haan, QC, who told him:"You need to watch it as far as burglaries are concerned. If you clock up too many you know how long you will get.
"Bearing in mind your plea, your lack of similar convictions, the scale of the property taken and that it was fortunately recovered, this sentence is appropriate."
Mr Ian Graham, prosecuting, said police arrested Harrison for shoplifting in Bideford's High Street ten days before the burglaries but he escaped from the officers and ran away.
He carried out the first burglary at a home in Torridge View, Bideford on the morning of September 23, where he searched the building and stole items including jewellery, a camera, and food from the freezer.
He moved on to Milton Place where he stole a saw from one house before breaking in through an insecure door to Mr Cornish's house where he was disturbed as he was stealing food from the freezer.
Mr Graham said:"He was found in the freezer room by the owner and there was a discussion in which he said his mate said it was okay but he must have got the wrong house.
"The householder ordered him to leave and contacted the police and he was arrested later that day and all the stolen items were recovered."
Mr Nigel Wraith, defending, said Harrison is ashamed of himself and wants to apologise to the victims. He has no memory of what happened because he had taken a mixture of legal highs and valium.
He said:"Mr Cornish caught him on his premises and gave him a boot to help him on his way as he saw him out."
