A MASKED raider who burgled a friend's garage while on early release from prison has been jailed for two years.

Fred Newdick, 33, parked his dad's work van close to the Gorse Hill house before breaking into the garage, which is also used as a gym.

Newdick smashed his way through the ceiling of the outhouse at the Beatrice Street property and loaded items on the roof to steal.

And when the victim's lodger heard what was going on Newdick threatened him in a drunken rant.

Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that Scott Sturgess was at home on Monday, March 23, when he heard a hammering noise.

"He found the defendant, Mr Newdick, outside wearing surgical gloves and what has been variously described as goggles or a ski mask," she said.

"He was acting in a strange manner, it later appeared he was drunk. He was threatening to kick in Mr Sturgess' head and/or his landlord Mr Randall-Churchill."

She said he went back inside and phoned the home owner, spotting Newdick's van marked with his dad's business, AA Drainaway, parked nearby.

He then went back out and found the defendant, who said that he had the owner's permission to be in the garage, on its roof next to a one metre wide hole he had made.

It was found that he had also removed a laser level, worth about £800, a chain saw worth £500 and a £350 leaf blower, as well as doing about £300 worth of damage.

When he was questioned he said he had permission to be in the garage and denied putting the items on the roof saying he wasn't sure how much he had drunk.

Newdick, of Spruce Court, Pinehurst, pleaded not guilty to burglary and common assault but was convicted by magistrates after he failed to turn up for the trial.

The court was told he had a history of crime and was on licence for two sets of burglaries at the time of the break in.

In one he nearly led to the lights going out on the town after he stole batteries from electrical substations and in another he was involved in taking jewellery from someone's house.

Richard Williams, defending, said his client had been returned to prison for 28 days for his breach of early release, but had served that time.

He said all the parties in the case knew each other but the evidence was that the owner had not given him permission to use the garage, which had been converted to a gym.

Despite his history he said he had many positive aspects in his life including the support of his father, who would take him back on at his business.

He said he also had two children, neither of whom lives with him, and he would like to provide for them.

Jailing him Recorder Patrick Clarkson QC said: "You appear before the court on two matters arising out of the same incident.

"That was a burglary of a house garage in March of this year and a common assault on Scott Sturgess who was present at the time of the burglary."