A burglar stole a watch and jewellery after causing more than £1,000 worth of damage to a door to gain entry.
Luke Wall, 29, broke into the home of Sanjita Gar and her family in Castleton, Newport, on January 30 last year when the house was empty.
But the hapless burglar, of HMP Oakwood, set off an alarm which alerted neighbours who called the police. DNA found on the door handle to the property linked Wall to the crime and he was subsequently arrested.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday heard among the items taken was a Burberry watch worth £250, a gold necklace worth between £350 and £400, and £100 worth of cash. None of these were recovered.
The front door of the home had been forced open by some kind of tool and had been left ajar. Around £1,150 worth of damage had been caused.
In a victim personal statement read out to the court by prosecutor Christopher Evans Ms Gar said her family had been financially affected by the burglary by having to pay for new security systems and to repair damage.
She added: "We are frightened and keep having nightmares. I feel scared even when I'm at home in the daytime just in case it happens again. I still feel anxious and I feel like this will also be in the back of my mind."
Defence barrister Harry Baker said his client, who has a number of previous convictions including for theft, is currently serving a prison sentence and was due to be released in May. As a result of his latest conviction his time served on remand will not count towards his sentence.
Recorder Sean Bradley told Wall only an immediate custodial sentence could be justified and sentenced him to eight months imprisonment.
