A BURGLAR was caught red-handed after breaking into a village hall and post office in a village near Ludlow early one morning.

Postmistress Jose Breakwell and her husband Martin had been alerted by the alarm going off at Brimfield on February 26, Paul Whitfield, prosecuting, told Worcester Crown Court.

The couple, who had driven four miles, confronted Paul Didlick as he left the premises.

Martin Breakwell then launched himself at the intruder and, with the help of his wife, managed to detain Didlick until police arrived, said Mr Whitfield.

The premises, which doubles as the village hall and Post Office, had both been entered. Didlick had taken £250 from the hall electricity meter and about £300 from the Post Office, although he had not been able to open the safe.

All the money was recovered from Didlick, aged 47, of Milton Road, Ludlow, who pleaded guilty to burglary and using abusive and threatening behaviour towards the Breakwells. He was jailed for 14 months.

Mr Whitfield said that after Didlick had been detained, he had used foul and disgusting language about the Breakwells and had threatened to find out where they lived so he could burn their house down.

Didlick had been drinking and had recently split from his wife. His record showed sporadic offending and there were long periods when he did not come to notice of police.

John Dyer, mitigating, said Didlick had had three wives and one partner and 11 children. He could not read or write but on the day preceding the break-in he had so much to drink he could not remember what he was doing. He was on the point of moving to Worcester when he was arrested.

He had been promised a job in Bromyard but prison would mean that he would lose his house, his dogs and his ferret.

Judge Toby Hooper QC said he was impressed that Didlick had kept out of trouble for 10 years in the past but he had targeted and carried out an attack on a valuable village amenity. After being caught red-handed, he had made "truly foul threats" against the Breakwells, he said.

The judge ordered that 21 days credit be given to Didlick for the time he had been on tag when he was remanded.