A PENSIONER was knocked to the ground when he confronted two burglars who were ransacking his home in daylight.

John Hayley was at his home in Roker Avenue, Sunderland, when he spotted two men in his living room on March 15 this year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the brave 71-year-old, who was at home with his wife, shouted at them before grabbing one of the intruders.

David Ritchie, 21, made his way out of the house, but the court heard how Mr Hayley was involved in a scuffle with one of the raiders outside.

The pair managed to escape with £400 worth of jewellery and electrical equipment and Mr Hayley was left suffering cuts and bruises to his back and elbow.

After a police investigation Ritchie, of Railway Terrace, New Herrington, Houghton-le-Spring, was arrested and pleaded guilty to burglary. He already had 22 previous convictions for 57 offences.

Judge Gerard Harkins, jailing Ritchie for two-and-a-half years, told him: "You were not the man who engaged in confrontation, if you were you would be going to prison for four years."

James Adkin, mitigating, said Ritchie had written a letter of apology to the Hayleys.