A MARINE engineer who claimed he’d received threatening text messages had burgled the unlocked home of an innocent Anglesey couple as they slept, a court heard on Thursday, when he was jailed for 20 months.

Lee Clayton, 31, of Parc Felin Dwr, Holyhead, pleaded guilty to burglary at Llanynghenedl, aggravated taking of his mother’s car and dangerous driving in July last year. He also admitted a separate drug driving offence.

Caernarfon crown court was told Euros, an iPad, iPhone and laptop were stolen but found later in the car.

Prosecutor Jemma Gordon said police had been alerted by a witness who saw a Vauxhall Corsa driven at night on the wrong side of the road, hit a traffic bollard, and go around a roundabout the incorrect way. It was clipping traffic cones and tyres were deflated.

Police had the registration and found the damaged car. Clayton told police he believed the burglary was at the home of the man who’d threatened him.

Richard Edwards, defending, said Clayton used his mother’s car and drove to the house to confront the man and he entered the property. “He wasn’t thinking rationally,” the barrister said. “He thought he would take the items to stop these messages coming through to him. The items have been recovered.

“Fortunately, for Mr Clayton the roads were quiet when he was driving.”

Clayton was a marine engineer in the Shetlands. “He’s shown genuine remorse for his behaviour,” the lawyer added.

Judge Timothy Petts imposed a twelve-month driving ban with an extended test to start after Clayton’s release from jail. “You have the opportunity to reflect on what you have done,” the judge declared. “Hopefully this will be the lesson you need to sort out your life.”

Judge Petts said the burglary victim had been very upset when he discovered what happened. He had suffered a recent bereavement.

The judge said Clayton had been in no state to drive and did so on two flat tyres.