A POLICEMAN whose house was being broken into leapt from his bed and caught the burglar in his garden.

A court heard that Darren Hughes bit off-duty police officer Simon Lines on the arm when he put him in a headlock and called for help.

The incident happened in Sedgefield, County Durham, in September 2004, but Hughes had been at large for two years after failing to turn up at court.

He was eventually arrested last year and appeared before Teesside Crown Court yesterday.

The 24-year-old, from Bilstone, Wolverhampton, was jailed for 18 months after admitting burglary and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Mitigating, Christopher Dorman-O'Gowan said Hughes broke into the house to get money for his train fare home.

"He was caught red-handed, bang to rights," said Mr Dorman-O'Gowan. "It is a classic case - absolutely nailed on the spot."