Man on trial charged with burglary

James Alan Bright, 41, of Holton Road, Barry, is accused of burgling a house in Cae Canol in Penarth.

Mr Bright is said to have stolen three laptops, an iPad mini, five watches and £50 in cash from the house, the court was told.

The incident in question occurred on September 9, 2016, on the morning of which the defendant and another man, Noel James, hired a van from a company in Barry Docks.

The court was told that James has already pleaded guilty to a charge of burglary.

Nicholas Gareth-Jones for the prosecution told the jury: "It was a white Renault and quite a large van.

"Later that day he drove to Penarth and with him was Noel James.

"It is the prosecution's case that they were looking for houses to burgle."

Mr Jones went on to say that they went to Cae Canol in Penarth and the occupier of the house in question was out at the time and did not come back until 5pm.

On her return, she had gone into the upstairs bedroom and noticed that there various items missing.

The lamp was on and the curtains were closed and she discovered that the house had been burgled.

She had gone to pick her children up from school and left the upstairs bedroom window ajar because it was a nice day.

Mr Jones added: "There is a sloping roof which is how the burglars would have got access.

"None of her neighbours actually saw the incident take place but some saw those responsible."

The court heard that one of the neighbours spoke to one of the two men involved at around 2.20pm that day and said he was "suspicious" about him.

He had asked the neighbour whether someone called Trudy lived there.

Another neighbour describes seeing the white van driving in the area as she was on her way to pick up her children from school.

The jury was also told of CCTV footage from a nearby property which showed the white travelling in the area and a man walking down the street around 12 minutes after who is believed to be Bright.

Bright denies burglary and the trial continues at Cardiff Crown Court.