A THREE strikes burglar has avoided jail after a judge told him: "I'm going to take chance with you."

Adam Harding, 39, ran off when he was disturbed in a home in Burnham-on-Sea by a mother who went downstairs after just putting her three-year-old daughter to bed.

Harding, of Rosewood Close, Burnham, pleaded guilty to burglary with attempt to steal shortly before he was due to stand trial at Taunton Crown Court.

Nikki Coombe, prosecuting, said the victim saw Harding, in a grey hoodie and dark trousers, run away and climb over the garden fence after she had spotted him in the doorway of her home at about 7pm on October 29 last year.

A man who had heard the commotion saw him "acting strangely and mumbling" in the street and detained him, added Mrs Coombe.

The victim, who felt "very scared and worried", later picked Harding out at an identity parade.

Rupert Russell, defending, said: "As soon as he (Harding) became aware she (the victim) was in the house, he immediately retreated from the property."

He said that, although burglars committing three offences would normally receive a minimum three-year jail sentence, Harding, who had been under a curfew order since the offence, had not committed a burglary for ten years.

Judge David Ticehurst agreed with Mr Russell that it would be unjust to jail the defendant due to the length of time since his last offence.

The judge told Harding: "You're at a stage in your life where in my judgement, with the support of the probation service, you could turn your life around."

He added that Harding had "mental health difficulties and a considerable number of problems in your life made worse by abusing drugs".

Harding was handed a two-year community order and a drug rehabilitation order and told to pay an £85 statutory surcharge.

The judge added: "I'm going to take a chance with you."