A youth who broke into a man's home was soon sorry he did so as the homeowner beat him.

The 17-year old fled the scene when he was able to escape and took himself straight to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH). It is understood the culprit had several wounds and that he received upwards of 50 stitches to close them. Many of the gashes were in his head.

The story was covered in yesterday's edition of The Royal Gazette but incorrectly said that the homeowner was injured and had to go to hospital for treatment.

Police attended the Pembroke residence at 12.50 a.m. on Wednesday, responding to a call of a breaking and entering. There the complainant told officers that his house had been broken into the two previous nights and that a wallet containing cash and a cellular phone worth $150 had been stolen.

He then explained how at 12.30 a.m. on Wednesday he was in an upstairs bedroom of the home when he heard noises downstairs, and ran to investigate. He said when he entered his kitchen he saw a man searching the house and another trying to get in.

At that point he sought to defend his property and fought the man inside. The beating caused the intruder to flee the scene and go to KEMH.

Police confirmed that they attended the hospital, found and questioned the suspect, arrested him and that he was released on Police bail. They also confirmed that a second 17-year-old, thought to be the accomplice, was also arrested and bailed.

Police Insp. John Dale noted that Police believe the home owner "used sufficient force as is reasonably necessary" to defend his property. There is provision in the criminal code for people to use as much force as would be considered reasonably necessary to defend their home and property from crime.

But Insp. Dale also stressed that local Police "do not want members of the community to take unnecessary chances".