A 40-year-old man said his mind "went blank" when he was caught attempting to steal from a family who used to employ him to do odd jobs.

Garrett Burrows, of Court Street, Pembroke, was caught by Syrus Ratteray's 13-year-old daughter on May 13 as he searched her parents room.

Burrows, who was last in court in 2002 for possession of heroin, had been employed to do random jobs around their Overview Hill, Pembroke home for the past several years.

Yesterday, in Magistrates' Court where the 41-year-old pleaded guilty to entering a building in an attempt to steal, he explained that his mind had just gone blank.

He said: "I don't know what happened that morning and apologised to the people an all. I am seeking self-help.

"I have enrolled myself at Focus. I cannot even explain that morning. My mind just went blank. I don't know what happened."

Around 10 a.m., Mr. Ratteray left his Pembroke home while his 13-year-old daughter remained.

Shortly after her father's departure she heard someone coming up the steps, so she left her room to see who it was.

Then she heard noises in her parents' room and found Burrows standing in front of their dresser with the doors open.

She asked: "What are you doing here?" He replied: "Your daddy's coming now," and the 13-year-old left to call her parents and the Police, who arrested Burrows.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner questioned Burrows as to why he entered the house saying it must have been frightening for the teenager.

He said: "What were you doing in the house? The people's child was in the house. Do you realise how terrifying that must have been?

"Are you on drugs? If you were not using drugs, what caused your mind to go blank? This is a particularly frightening episode.

'It's not about apologising. It's not going to stop it from happening."

Mr. Warner then sentenced Burrows to two years imprisonment followed by three years probation on condition he seek treatment for drug abuse.