A man spotted burgling a home by an off-duty policeman has been jailed for nine months.

Ian Hillier, 24, of Applesham Avenue, Hove, was arrested after the officer, who lived nearby, noticed him acting suspiciously and rang colleagues.

Officers raced to the scene of the break-in in Elm Drive, Hove, in March and found Hillier in the back garden.

He claimed he lived there but a bag containing stolen electrical goods was found dumped in a cemetery next to the house.

Hillier admitted burglary when he appeared before Brighton magistrates and was committed to Lewes Crown Court for sentence.

Diane Chan, prosecuting, told the court: "The house was close to the home of an off-duty policeman who saw him acting suspiciously in the grounds and rang 999.

"He eventually made a full admission and said he was a heroin addict and stole the goods to pay off his debts."

Jeremy Gold, defending, said: "It appears his arrest and prosecution have pulled him up sharply. He was under pressure to pay the money immediately and this is the way he went about it.

"He maintains he is no longer on drugs at all."

Judge Richard Brown said: "You will get credit for the guilty plea.

"But a residential burglary is always very serious. Some people never recover from the shock of being burgled."