A DRUG addict who broke into a church to steal met his match with the 74-year-old key holder who stoutly defended the property, Bradford Crown Court heard.

The judge told Lee O'Hara, 43, that pensioner Michael Tomlinson, who tried to push him out of Horton Bank Methodist Church, was "made of sterner stuff than you".

O'Hara, of Heatherlands Avenue, Denholme, was jailed for 16 months after pleading guilty to entering the church, on Great Horton Road, Bradford, as a trespasser with intent to steal.

Prosecutor Kate Batty told the court today that O'Hara was homeless and on drugs when he broke into the church at 9am on August 6.

He smashed a window and damaged internal doors before trying to force a safe and putting a shredder and a Hoover into black bin bags.

But Mr Tomlinson and a heating engineer confronted him and he fled, only to attempt to climb back in through a window to retrieve his phone.

Mr Tomlinson warned him the police were on their way and struggled with O'Hara, pushing him back, Mrs Batty said.

O'Hara, who had previous convictions for theft and going equipped, was arrested at the scene.

His solicitor advocate, Alistair Bateman, said he worked as a labourer when not under the influence of drugs.

Although there was a confrontation at the church, no one was hurt and nothing was actually stolen.