A BURGLAR caught red-handed stealing Champagne from a garden shed apologised to the homeowner and dropped the bottles before making his getaway on a bike.

John Green, of Bretch Hill, Banbury, admitted the offence and was sentenced to two years and 88 days jail when he appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Monday.

He also asked for the theft of a pair of jeans from a charity shop on September 7 and a separate theft of biscuits and cakes on September 18 to be taken into account.

Green, 34, had only been out of jail for three weeks when he burgled the Stephen Bennett's shed in Winchelsea Close, Banbury on September 19.

The court was told that about 8.30pm Mr Bennett heard a noise in his garden and found Green with three bottles of Champagne in his hands.

He dropped them and apologised before cycling away, pursued by the homeowner on foot.

He was later arrested when police officers found his bike abandoned in a garden.

Jennifer Edwards, defending, said: "It is most unhappy he had committed the offences so soon after prison. He was driven by a need for free booze and trying to provide for a little family."

Judge David Morton Jack said: "You have a really terrible record for dishonesty. The time has come where if you really wish to change your ways you have to got to start by curbing your offending."