A MAN who stole two bottles of brandy from an empty home has been given a community order.

Carl Wozencroft of Moorland Close, Cinderford pleaded guilty to burglary at a home in Aston Ingham, near Ross-on-Wye.

Hereford Crown Court heard the 27-year-old gained entry to a bungalow last year through the back door.

The home had been empty since June 2014 after an elderly woman had been taken into care with dementia, and her grown-up children checked the house every day.

When a family member went to check the home they discovered the break-in and two bottles of brandy had been stolen after an untidy search.

Police were able to identify Wozencroft from a palm print left at the scene of the crime and a cigarette end found in the garden.

When he was arrested he initially told police he was just looking for somewhere to sleep after problems with his partner and that he had been drinking.

But after further police questioning he admitted to the burglary, which had caused damage to the front and back door.

At the time of the offence, Wozencroft had just come out of prison following convictions of two burglaries of garages, from which he stole gardening equipment.

The court heard Wozencroft had been in custody since December 19, which the judge deemed sufficient time in prison for the offence.

Wozencroft was given a community order for 18 months with a supervision order for 18 months.