A drug addict broke into a family's home and stole two mobile phones and a purse in order to pay off a debt.
Burglar Carlo Heron, 45, climbed through a kitchen window into the home of Christopher Cox in Cardiff while his partner and three-year-old daughter slept upstairs.
Mr Cox was sleeping downstairs at around 6.30am on April 17 when he was woken by a noise in the kitchen and when he looked he saw a man standing next to the tumble dryer.
The man glanced at Mr Cox and ran though the back door into the garden. He was chased by Mr Cox but he jumped over a garden fence and into the trees out of sight.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday heard a Samsung mobile phone, an iPhone, and a purse containing a driving licence and bank cards were taken.
The police were called and took samples of DNA for analysis. Positive links were made to Heron from the back door key and the kitchen window.
The defendant was arrested and provided a no comment interview. He later pleaded guilty to burglary.
In a victim personal safety, Mr Cox said he and his family had decided to move from the address and he was "disgusted" that the burglary had taken place "during the early stages of a pandemic".
The victim said they had also lost photos and videos of their child on the phones which were of sentimental value.
Defence barrister John Ryan said his client was a recovering drug addict but had relapsed prior to the latest incident after the death of his mother's partner.
He said Heron had racked up a £1,000 debt after obtaining drugs "on tick" and was under pressure to come up with the money so made the "stupid decision" to commit the burglary.
Sentencing Recorder Dyfed Thomas said: "People should feel safe in their own home and there has been an effect here on the people who were in their home that morning."
Heron, of Blaenavon Close, St Mellons, was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment.
