A PLUCKY pensioner who confronted a housebreaker and pursued him down the street shouting "Burglar, burglar!" has been praised by a judge.

Geoffrey Popple, 76, was described as "a very brave elderly gentleman" for his role in netting career criminal Anthony Wood, who was jailed for five years at Bradford Crown Court today.

Mr Popple faced Wood, 29, over the garden gate of the property he was burgling in broad daylight in Idle Road, Bradford, on June 18.

Wood, of Greenwood Avenue, Swain House, Bradford, was a "sixth strike" house burglar, prosecutor Robert Galley said.

He smashed his way into a woman's home and was making off with two laptop computers and valuable jewellery when he was confronted by Mr Popple, who had heard the burglar alarm go off.

The pensioner pursued Wood down a snicket, joined by other members of the public.

Wood got away but was caught on CCTV cameras and recognised by a police officer.

He was also linked to the crime scene by DNA on a sock he left behind.

He pleaded guilty to burglary and was sentenced on a video link to Leeds Prison where he was being held in custody.

Mr Galley said the victim's jewellery box was found in her garden.

Wood stole five diamond rings and other jewellery, worth £8,000.

The court heard Wood was given an anti-social behaviour order when he was a youth.

By 2002, he was a "third strike" house burglar and was now a "six striker."

His solicitor advocate, Anne-Marie Hutton, said it was a daytime burglary with no confrontation with the householder.

Some of the stolen items were recovered.

The Asbo dealt out to Wood when he was a youth had made it hard for him to get a job and he burgled homes for money.

He had not wasted time by asking for a probation service report before he was sentenced.

Judge Jonathan Rose labelled Wood "a career criminal".

He had violated the woman's home, causing a great amount of distress, and making off with high value property.

Wood had no thought at all for the victims of his crimes and it was time he served a lengthy jail sentence.