Paul Harkins was laden with an array of stolen items when the woman who owned the property turned up unexpectedly.

Police found the thief lying in agony on the rear patio of her two-storey home — with the loot strewn around him.

Harkins, 29 — who is today behind bars for the botched break-in — spent two months in hospital as a result of his crushing tumble.

Prosecutor Pamela Brady told Greenock Sheriff Court: “He was injured and unable to move.

“Both of his femurs were fractured.” The court heard how drunken Harkins targeted the house, in Greenock’s Shankland Road, on 23 April last year.

He helped himself to jewellery, mobile phones, a camera, a clock, a torch, a bag containing metal tokens, toiletries, belts, bottles of alcohol and £4.33 in cash.

Fiscal depute Mrs Brady said: “The householder left the property and secured it at around 9pm.

“She returned at 10.30pm and became aware of a man in his late 20s wearing a white tracksuit at her driveway.

“The complainer formed the view that he was trying to signal to someone. The male then ran off.” Mrs Brady added: “A number of police arrived and found the woman at her front gate.

“They made their way to the rear garden and saw a male lying in the patio area.

“Various household items were strewn around.

“He had fallen and injured himself.” Harkins — who admitted the indictment burglary charge — carried out the break-in whilst acting with another man who is meantime unknown.

Defence lawyer David Tod said: “There has been an element of summary justice.

“Mr Harkins was in hospital for two months and required a number of operations.

“He sustained severe damage to both of his knees and still has some difficulty as far as his mobility is concerned.

“He has existing mental health difficulties which have been exacerbated by his use of drugs.” Mr Tod added: “This is not a matter of which he is proud.

“It was not pre-planned. He was under the influence of alcohol and decided to get himself involved.” Harkins also admitted stealing painkillers from a Semi-Chem outlet and food from another shop.

He pleaded guilty to a further charge of heroin possession. Sheriff Ian Fleming, right, jailed Harkins, of Greenock’s Poplar Street, for a total of six months on all matters.