Farmer Tony Martin woke up in prison today to begin a life sentence. His conviction for the murder of teenage burglar Fred Barras shocked family and supporters.

But the implications of this case will be felt far beyond Bleak House, Martin's Norfolk home where the shooting took place. Rural residents everywhere will want to know what the verdict means for them.

Many North Yorkshire homes are in an isolated position like Bleak House. The nearest neighbours are some distance away, the emergency services yet further removed. Those who live in such circumstances will be wondering what they would be expected to do if a gang of burglars broke into their home.

The results of two court cases make it clear what they should not do. A jury dismissed Tony Martin's plea that he was acting in terrified self-defence. On the fateful night, he fired his illegal shotgun without warning, hitting 16-year-old Fred Barras in the back. The teenager should not have broken into Martin's home but he did not deserve to be sentenced to immediate death by the obsessive Martin.

The second court case was back in 1998 and involved an Osgodby farmer, Stanley Wiles. He was ordered to pay compensation to burglar Malcolm Phillips after assaulting him. But Mr Wiles did not simply lash out in self-defence. After knocking the intruder unconscious, he tied him to a gate, crucifix-style, and beat him so he was left with injuries including a fractured skull.

The law allows for reasonable force in defending yourself, but these two farmers went far beyond what could be considered reasonable.

So what are householders supposed to do to protect their families and their home during a break-in? Certainly they should immediately alert the police. The North Yorkshire force must reassure rural residents that officers will respond as quickly as possible to such an emergency.

Beyond that, there are no easy answers. Each incident is different. There is only one guideline for anyone confronted by the nightmare of burglary: always place human life above property.