A HOMELESS man who broke into a flooded house and set fire to the bedroom has been jailed.

Polish-born Rafal Matwiejczyk forced his way into the empty Chipping Norton bungalow on a cold night in February, Oxford Crown Court heard.

He was drunk and slept in the Lord Piece Road home before stealing a laptop and a PalmPilot computer and then setting a bed alight in a bid to cover up his crime.

The 32-year-old, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty in June to burglary and arson. And he was sentenced by Recorder Julian Knowles to 22 months in prison.

Jonathan Stone, prosecuting, said the detached home Matwiejczyk burgled was deserted after a tank had burst spilling water.

He said a window had been broken by Matwiejczyk and there was smoke damage throughout the home.

He added: “The victim in this case had to deal with two very intrusive offences – not only the burglary but during that burglary substantial damage was caused to her house. The damage was extensive, but thankfully limited to one particular room.”

The court heard on Friday Matwiejczyk had previous convictions for burglary, theft, and criminal damage. But William Woodman, defending, said Matwiejczyk had turned to drink shortly before the crime after he lost his job and home, and his relationship had broken down.

He said: “He was clearly extremely intoxicated when this happened.

“One of the factors for entering the property was it was an empty property and somewhere he could lay his head.”