A BURGLAR who claimed he was investigating an apparent gas leak at a next-door neighbour’s home when he was caught inside has been convicted.

Bradley Fisher, of Windrush Close, Witney, had denied the single count of burglary but was convicted by a jury of six men and six women at Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

As his trial began on Tuesday, jurors heard the 19-year old had been living at a flat in Witney at the time of the offence on the afternoon of October 26, 2016.

Taking to the witness box the victim, his next door neighbour, said that she had returned home that day and was immediately confronted with Fisher, who was standing at the far end of the flat.

She told jurors the man, who she did not know personally, then told her not to attack him.

She said he quickly left the property and it was not until that evening that she discovered a Kindle valued at about £50 had disappeared and she noticed a rucksack containing a laptop and tablet had been stashed under her bed.

On confronting her neighbour he denied stealing the item and later claimed he had been at her flat investigating an apparent disturbance as well as a suspected gas leak.

Dismissing his argument a jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict as his trial ended yesterday and he will be sentenced at the same court on March 20.