A break-in at a workshop was foiled when eagle-eyed staff at a neighbouring business reported three men entering the property in broad daylight.

Police discovered two men and a youth inside the building on Raglan Road in Lowestoft after a 999 call from nearby Hoseasons Vacation Rentals staff.

Mark Johnson, 56, appeared at Norwich Magistrates’ Court having previously pleaded guilty to the burglary on the afternoon of August 27 last year.  

The hearing was told he has 39 previous convictions for 99 offences.

READ MORE: Two men charged with two counts of burglary in Lowestoft

Hollie Davies-Regan, prosecuting, said the trio had claimed they were “just having a little rummage”. 

One of them appeared to be attempting to leave the commercial premises with bags full of branded T-shirts and champagne belonging to the business, she added.

Magistrates ordered that Johnson, of Milton Road in Lowestoft, complete drug treatment and 10 rehabilitation days as part of a 24 month community order.  

Annette Hall, mitigating, said: “At the time he was street homeless and together with the others believed these premises were unoccupied.”

A co-defendant was previously sentenced to 15 months suspended for two years for his involvement.