THE bravery of a householder who tried to carry out a citizen’s arrest has put a burglar behind bars for more than six years.

Lee Dennis Yeomans’ brutal bid for freedom left father-of-two Chris Miles bleeding from a painful groin injury, York Crown Court heard.

Now the Recorder of York has warned other burglars who attack residents defending their properties will also spend years behind bars.

Judge Stephen Ashurst said: “Attacks on householders or those who are seeking to carry out arrests have to be marked by significant sentences of imprisonment.

“Mr Miles, in my judgement, having heard and seen his evidence, showed considerable fortitude and courage.

“He set out to effect a citizen’s arrest on a man who had just tried to burgle his family home in the early hours of the morning.

“Had he not been awake, I am quite satisfied a serious burglary would have been committed.”

Det Sgt Mark Jackson, of York CID, said: “While I would never recommend that victims of crime confront offenders in this way, you have to admire the sheer determination of this man whose home had been invaded in the middle of the night.

“I just hope the victim can take some comfort from the fact that Yeomans has been brought to justice and will spend a very long time behind bars.

“As for Lee Yeomans and people like him who inflict misery in our communities, this case is a stark warning that the full weight of the law will be used to deal with such offenders.”

The judge said Yeomans showed “self-pity and a lack of remorse”, and had said he was sorry for the injury.

“That is all very well, but it doesn’t come with any acknowledgement that it was you who created this situation by going out in the early hours of the morning committing dwelling-house burglaries,” the judge told Yeomans.

As he fled from Mr Miles, Yeomans had phoned the police and claimed he was the victim, whereas the opposite was the truth.

Earlier this month, a jury saw through his lies and convicted him of attempted burglary and wounding with intent to resist arrest. Yeomans, 38, of Bramham Road, Chapelfields, had denied both charges, but admitted an unrelated commercial burglary committed on bail.

He had 163 previous convictions including several for house burglaries.

For Yeomans, Paul Reid said he still denied he had broken the law. He had been unable to sleep since his conviction and was taking anti-depressants. “He is a very unhappy man,” the barrister said.

Although “most unpleasant”, Mr Miles’ injury had not been life-threatening, disfiguring or permanent. Doctors had dealt with it “swiftly”.

Yeomans had behaved “instinctively” when attacked in a way that had left him injured.

But the judge said the injuries were consistent with him struggling in a confined space.

After the sentencing, Mr Miles, 40, said: “I am really pleased at the sentence. It is the definitely the result we were hoping for. To be behind bars for six years is what this man deserves.

“I was in discomfort and in pain for a considerable time after what he did.

“I am glad he was caught and punished and I just hope he doesn’t do it again.”