A MAN who thumped his step-brother after catching him burgling his house has seen him sent to prison for the crime.

Desperate thief Jamie Hill, 21, stole a laptop, booze and a baby bag after breaking into the man’s home in Wren Road, Greenock.

But he was thwarted when his furious step-sibling caught him in the act and punched him right on the face.

Hill needed hospital treatment for three stitches after the blow sent him crashing to the ground.

As he appeared at Greenock Sheriff Court for sentencing on Wednesday, Hill was jailed for a total of six months.

At the time of the incident he was on a community payback order for another offence.

The court heard that the householder had returned to his semi-detached home at around 2.15pm on 14 March to find a panel on his front door had been smashed.

He became aware of movement inside and was shocked to see Hill squeezing back through the panel in an attempt to escape with the stolen items.

Hill spilled the laptop, six cans of Tennent’s lager and the bag after being hit.

The items amounted to £385.

He previously pled guilty to the offence at the court three days after it took place sporting a cut above his left eye.

Depute fiscal David Glancy said: “The complainer, fearing for his safety, delivered a punch which struck the accused, making him fall to the ground.

“He then called police.” The court heard that Hill, who had taken diazepam prior to the theft, apologised to his step-brother, saying that he owed someone £1,000.

Solicitor Gerry Keenan described the incident as a ‘spectacular fall from grace’ and added: “He accepts his guilt and has expressed remorse and contrition.” Hill, of Davey Street, was sentenced to prison after Sheriff Derek Hamilton told him a custodial sentence was ‘inevitable’.