A BUNGLING burglar knocked on a woman’s door and asked for a taxi to be called so he could cart away goods he had just stolen.

Drunken Tyrone Ackerman also produced a knife and threatened to "stab up" the woman’s husband when he challenged him after spotting two wheelbarrows with tools he had taken from his shed.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Ackerman drank alcohol he had stolen from the family’s shed – booze which had been won in a raffle – and was trapped when DNA taken from a bottle was matched to him.

Prosecutor Jenny Haigh said the defendant rang the bell at the house, in Roseberry Road, Middlesbrough, at about 1am on November 10 last year.

When the woman answered he repeatedly demanded for a taxi to be called. The householder refused and Ackerman was then challenged by her husband who saw the stolen items.

Ackerman responded: “It is my stuff and I want a taxi.”

The man’s son then got involved and was pushed away by Ackerman who pulled a knife telling the older man “I will stab you up” after he tried to restrain him.

Ackerman, 30, of Kindersley Street, Middlesbrough, who was jailed for a total of 20 months, was described as unsteady on his feet and “wobbling”.

He made off and was later arrested by police, again repeating the stab threat to an officer and also spitting at him, the spit hitting the windowsill of a patrol car.

Ackerman, who left behind a black pouch with tools he brought to carry out the shed raid, admitted burglary, threatening another with a bladed article, as well as common assault and criminal damage, all offences he committed while already on bail.

He has 26 convictions for 45 criminal offences, including a number of previous burglaries for which he had already served time.

His recollection of events was said to be limited because of the amount of alcohol he had drunk.

Recorder David Gordon said his behaviour had been bizarre.

He said: “He burgles somebody’s shed and then demands they call a taxi so he can take away their property. I have no difficulty in accepting he was drunk.”

The judge said Ackerman was at a crossroads and had to decide whether he wanted to do something constructive with his life.

He said: “The public are quite rightly concerned about young people habitually carrying knives with them in public places and indeed brandishing them.”