A NEWPORT man has been jailed for burgling his neighbour.

Neil Warner, aged 27, of Clarence Place, was sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday for burglary of a dwelling along with Nicola Jones, aged 31, of Bryn Milwr, Hollybush, Cwmbran.

Both pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing and appeared via video link from prison.

The court heard that on November 4, 2014, Warner was seen at around 2.15pm with a three foot long piece of wood in his hand which was an architrave with nails and screws in it. He forced entry into the flat next to his believing his neighbour had taken his bike.

Owen Williams, prosecuting, said that a neighbour on the floor below heard Warner say "open the door - I'm going to kill you and smash the place."

The witness saw Jones carrying Nike trainers belonging to the neighbour leaving the flat and saw Warner carrying a large black sports bag along with a black jacket belonging to the neighbour on him.

The neighbour Mr Ross, who was the victim of the burglary, returned home and found his front door was damaged, his house had been searched and chairs were overturned. His 22 inch flat screen TV had been taken along with a DVD player, £108 in cash, two Nike trainers and an Adidas black and red jacket.

Mr Ross called the police and later saw photos on Facebook of Jones wearing his Adidas jacket. Two days later he saw Jones in Newport City Centre wearing his jacket.

Mr Williams said: "He challenged her and told her to return it. She refused to do so."

Both defendants were arrested on November 7 and bank notes were recovered during the search of Jones's house.

Stephen Thomas, defending Warner, told the court that Warner was an intelligent and articulate man but that he had a history of substance abuse.

Gareth Williams, defending Jones, said the 31-year-old was easily led and was a "vulnerable person".

Warner was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment and Jones was given 14 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

Jones will also be subject to a crime reduction initiative.