A BURGLAR who was caught after leaving a Panama hat at the scene of a break-in was yesterday jailed for 12 months.

Gabriel Chamberlain, who hit the headlines when he staged a tree protest in Oxford city centre, was last night behind bars after breaking into a flat in Jericho.

The 35-year-old, who spent 11 days in a sycamore tree in Bonn Square in January last year, crept into the flat in Walton Street while a couple and their baby were sleeping.

Chamberlain, of Oxford Road, Kidlington, was caught after he lost his distinctive hat when he jumped out of the flat’s window on August 18 last year.

He denied burglary, claiming he had swapped hats with a man he did not know, but was convicted by a jury at Oxford Crown Court last month after a two-day trial.

Judge Mary Jane Mowat heard Chamberlain had previously been convicted of two burglaries, five thefts, three offences of handling stolen goods, taking a bicycle without consent, having an offensive weapon and possessing cannabis and heroin.

He was also arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass after coming down from the tree in Bonn Square, but the case against him was dropped.

Judge Mowat jailed Chamberlain for 12 months after hearing he was chased out of the flat by resident Ben Hedgedus.