A BURGLARY victim alerted police after spotting his own suitcase in a neighbour’s garden.

Colin Whittaker had smashed the alarm at neighbour Kevin McGuinness’ home in Rutland Grove, Bolton, removed a window and unlocked shutters.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Mr McGuinness came home on January 21 to find his house had been ransacked and a grinder, tablet, toiletries and bottles of drink had been stolen.

Antony Longworth, prosecuting, said the goods, together worth £1,500, were nearly all found by police at a property two doors away, where Whittaker and partner Tina Clifford live.

He added that Mr McGuinness suspected Whittaker of involvement in the crime as his neighbour had previously called at his home.

Two days after the burglary Mr McGuinness phoned police after noticing his own suitcase in Whittaker’s garden.

“Mr McGuinness was keeping a close eye on his neighbour and saw the suitcase that had been stolen in the burglary,” said Mr Longworth.

Police recovered the suitcase, which had been used to carry away Mr McGuinness’ possessions, and forced their way into Whittaker’s home, where they recovered most of the remaining stolen items.

Whittaker, aged 38, initially claimed he had bought the goods from two Hungarian men in the street two days earlier.

But Whittaker and 29-year-old Clifford had sold the stolen tablet to a shop in Bolton for £33 and were filmed on the store’s CCTV.

Whittaker pleaded guilty to burglary and Clifford admitted handling stolen goods.

The court heard that Whittaker has expressed “remorse and shame” and is now engaging with treatment to stabilise his mental health.

Judge Richard Gioserano told Whittaker: “A person is entitled to be able to trust their neighbours not to burgle their home. It is a mean offence.”

He added that he would be jailing him immediately if he could be sure that Whittaker had carried out reconnaissance on his neighbour’s home before the break-in.

“I have my suspicions about the degree of planning that went into this, but I am going to give you the benefit of the doubt,” he added.

Whittaker was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for two years and ordered to participate in 30 days of rehabilitation activities.

Clifford was sentenced to a 12 month community order and must complete 20 days of rehabilitation activities.