Burglar caught on camera by home-owner

A shameless thief has finally been jailed after a cabbie spotted him in his garden - then persuaded him to POSE for his CAMERA. Stephen Neal, 26, was spotted lurking in taxi driver Bernie Sawford's garden - working out how to break into his house. Quick-thinking Bernie, 58, grabbed his cam-corder and began filming the crook, demanding: "What the hell are you doing in my garden?" But the prolific petty thief said he was hiding from drug dealers who were chasing him. Bernie then openly said to Neal, now standing in his neighbour's garden: "I'm taking a picture of you." But the hapless lout replied "Yeah whatever mate, I don't care" - then stood and posed for the camera. Bernie dialled 999 and showed the footage to police who were quickly able to track down the troublemaker and arrest him after he left the garden. Neal was charged with attempted burglary and possessing an iron bar, which he pleaded guilty to on March 7 after seeing the overwhelming photographic evidence against him.