A BURGLAR who stole hundreds of pounds worth of electronic equipment from his own neighbour has been jailed.

Mark Knight, of Crosse Court, in Laindon, targeted a home in the same block of flats while his neighbours were out.

The 31-year-old stole £800 worth of goods, including a camcorder, binoculars and a camera, as well as a mountain bike and a bottle of vodka.

He was arrested just hours after the burglary on Wednesday, April 20.

Officers found a stash of cocaine on him.

During an appearance at Basildon Crown Court, he admitted burglary and possession of class A drugs.

A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service told the Echo that Knight had previous convictions for burglary.

He said: "During the case, the court heard that there wasn't a messy search and there was no vandalism involved.

"There was nobody at home at the time of the burglary and there was no violence or deliberate targeting of the person who was burgled."

Knight was jailed for 24 weeks for the burglary, and four weeks for the drugs offence, to run concurrently.

In total, he will spend six months in prison.

The haul of goods was recovered and handed back to the victim.

Det Con Steve Dawkins from Basildon CID, the investigating officer in the case, welcomed Knight's sentence.

He said: “Burglaries can have a devastating impact on victims. I am pleased that Mark Knight has been brought to justice and will spend time in jail reflecting on his actions.”

After the sentencing, builder Jonathan McDonald, 44, who also lives in Crosse Court, said: "I think it's disgusting that a neighbour could do that to someone that you live with.

"He must have lived in the same block of flats to be able to get inside.

"These are the people who you are supposed to trust and look out for you.

"Thankfully they got all their things back."

Anyone with information about burglaries in Basildon can call the neighbourhood policing team on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.