ONE armed Vincent Sparkes acted as a driver when his friend burgled the garage of a Swindon house, a court heard.

But police were able to recover £1,500 worth of stolen goods and golf clubs after the householder noted the registration number of Sparkes' car, and a patrol spotted him later.

Sparkes, 23, of Carstairs Avenue, Park South, pleaded guilty to burglary, driving while disqualified and driving without insurance on March 28 last year.

Jailing him for 21 months, the recorder Anthony P De Freitas told him: "Only a sentence of imprisonment is appropriate."

Prosecuting, Clare Marlow said that at 10.30pm on March 28 a householder in Merlin Way, Covingham, heard two bangs. "She looked out of the window and saw a white male walking towards her house," Miss Marlow said. "Another male was sat in the driver's seat of a nearby car."

Police were alerted, Miss Marlow said, and stopped Sparkes' Renault because it matched a registration number given to them by the householder. "He opened the boot and revealed Regal golf clubs and tools. He was arrested on suspicion of burglary and taken to Westlea police station."

The judge disqualified him from driving for two years, ordering him to take an extended re-test before taking to the road.