A parrot helped jail a serial burglar for two years after he raised the alarm by squawking during a break-in.
Jake Fletcher was caught burgling a house in Monmouth, south Wales, last year after the family's pet parrot Charlie helped wake up his owner.
The 24-year-old had already broken-into two other houses on the same street before the parrot raised the alarm, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
Fletcher, from Newport, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years prison.
Emma Dazeley, 41, the parrot's owner, was in bed on the night of June 20 when she awoke to the sound of Charlie squawking in the front room.
Ms Dazeley was later given a £500 reward for confronting the victim and pursuing him when he tried to flee.
Prosecutor Matthew Roberts said: "During the last burglary, one of the victims was asleep in bed when she heard the family parrot squawking in the front room and she went to investigate.
"She saw the defendant hiding behind the door and confronted him. He pushed past her and ran out of the back door.
"The complainant grabbed hold of a rucksack the defendant had and told him he was not taking her daughter's bag with him. This caused the bag to rip.
"He fled and she pursued him. He tried to scale a fence but she tried to pull him down."
Fletcher reportedly dropped the rucksack, along with video games, and a bottle of gin and a bottle of prosecco, before fleeing.
Defending Fletcher, Suzanne Payne said his drink had been spiked on the night of the burglary.
Judge Richard Williams praised Ms Dazeley for her bravery in confronting Fletcher.
He said: “There was a struggle for possession of the rucksack with one victim. She tried to tackle you to stop you going over the fence.
“If I were to impose a suspended prison sentence, it would add insult to her injury."
Ms Dazeley also said she has been heartbroken since her "hero" Charlie flew off into the wild six weeks ago.
She said: "I was just trying to protect my home - and Charlie did his bit too.
"He didn't say any words but he squawked which is what alerted me to the burglary. He's my hero and I want him back."
