A BURGLAR caught by a "public-spirited" citizen is today behind bars for two years.

Raider Scott Green, 27, waved a screwdriver and threatened Robert Wilks as he tried to make his escape from a student house, said Khadim Al'hassan, prosecuting.

But he was unable to deter Mr Wilks, who punched him and grappled with him on the ground until police arrived.

Green, of Pottery Lane, Heworth, pleaded guilty to burgling a house in Newby Terrace, off Wigginton Road, and assault with intent to resist arrest.

Judge Paul Hoffman jailed him for two years, saying Mr Wilks had been "acting as a public-spirited citizen".

Mr Al'hassan told York Crown Court that Green and another man broke into a three-storey house, occupied by students, at 9.30 pm on January 20. One of its occupants alerted Mr Wilks at a nearby shop. He confronted the men as they tried to leave with a video.

"Mr Wilks was extremely frightened and thought he was going to be stabbed," said Mr Al'hassan.

For Green, Caroline Wigin said he had been in drink when he committed the burglary. He had suffered a head wound during the fight and he very much regretted the violence.

Updated: 10:46 Saturday, March 24, 2001