Bungling: Stewart Garner suffered a grazed chin after being tackled to the ground by Paul Thomas . A bungling burglar was spotted and caught by his victim - because of the graze on his chin from when the pair had grappled the day before. Stewart Garner suffered facial injuries when he was tackled to the ground after Paul Thomas caught him in his home in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. Garner, 49, fled the house after grabbing £8 in cash and a £65 pair of trainers from the kitchen counter of the property in Abbey Hulton. But the thief returned to the home 12 hours later and bumped into Mr Thomas, who recognised his grazed chin and distinctive limp. The father-of-two confronted Garner and managed to detain him until the police arrived. Officers then arrested him on suspicion of burglary. Garner - who has 43 previous convictions - was jailed for two years and four months after he admitted burglary. He asked for four other offences to be taken into consideration. Sentencing him at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court, Judge David Fletcher said: 'You are going to have to think very hard about how you deal with your life on your release from prison. 'Nobody is too old to change. If you do not, the rest of your life will be continued institutionalisation, as it has been for the last 33 years.' The court heard Mr Thomas had chased Garner through his home after catching him rummaging around his kitchen at 8.30pm on November 26 last year. The next morning Mr Thomas and his 24-year-old partner were waiting for their son's school taxi when they recognised Garner walk past their house. Speaking after the case, Mr Thomas said: 'What are the odds of us seeing the burglar walk past our house the very next day? 'It was pure chance he walked past at that moment. 'I could tell it was him because he had a grazed chin and I was determined to make sure he was jailed so he can't do this again. 'I knew it was him straight away but I made him remove his hood to be sure. Garner - who has 43 previous convictions - was jailed for two years and four months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after he admitted burglary . 'He kept protesting his innocence but I kept him talking until the cops showed up. I basically did the police's job for them. 'It didn't cross my mind that he might be dangerous. It was my instinct to protect my family but I heard my little girl shouting so I went back. 'It's not a long sentence considering he's a repeat offender. I'm just glad I can give people peace of mind knowing he can't do anything while behind bars.'
Stewart Garner had broken into the home of Paul Thomas in Stoke-on-Trent . Garner suffered a grazed chin after Mr Thomas tackled him to the ground . The 49-year-old thief then fled only to return to the home 12 hours later . But Mr Thomas bumped into him and recognised him from his facial injury . He managed to hold Garner until police officers arrived to arrest the thief . Garner was jailed for two years and four months after admitting burglary .