Bungling burglar William McLaughlin left behind a clue when he struck in Dalton.

The thief who got away after stealing items in a garage left behind a rucksack containing legal papers identifying him, along with the insulin for his diabetes, a court heard.

McLaughlin later tried to claim his bag had been stolen by someone else but he had also been confronted by a friend of the householder as he fled and a neighbour had recognised him from the area.

Andrew Horton, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court the incident began when the occupant of the semi-detached bungalow in Coniston Avenue, Dalton heard noises outside on November 21 and a friend of hers went to investigate. He saw McLaughlin running away from the garage and gave chase managing to grab him but when the intruder became aggressive as they struggled he felt it was better to let him go.

The burglar, who had only been released on licence four days earlier, had got into the garage through a side door and had taken pots and pans which were recovered because he had dropped them.

The rucksack was also discovered and McLaughlin was briefly recalled to custody while the case was pending but released again on Christmas Eve.

On the night of New Year’s Day he burgled a semi-detached property in Dog Kennel Bank, Almondbury removing a window from the frame while the occupants were away.

He helped himself to a Wii console and some wires and was seen by a neighbour as he left.

Carl Kingsley representing McLaughlin said he had “a multiplicity” of issues at the time which included addiction to Class A drugs, his diabetes, depression and inability to cope with his problems.

He said the legal papers left behind in the rucksack “were no doubt from my office.”

McLaughlin, 38 of Henley Croft, Dalton, Huddersfield admitted the two offences of burglary and was jailed for two years.

Judge Christopher Batty said it was his 64th appearance in a court for sentencing and drugs had clearly played a part in his offending.