A BURGLAR who was confronted by a 15-year-old girl has been jailed for two years.

Drug addict Peter Kellaher, 38, had broken into the house in Litherland at 6pm on January 25.

But he was forced to flee after the teenage girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, heard noises in her brother’s bedroom.

After finding Kellaher inside, she screamed and raised the alarm to her family, who were downstairs watching the Liverpool v Everton game on television.

David Evans, prosecuting, told how the girl’s mother and aunt ran outside, but spotted Kellaher climbing down a fence and tackled him. With the help of the girl’s father and a neighbour, they held him there until police arrived.

Jeffrey Pedley, defending, said Kellaher had an “appalling record” with 23 convictions for 44 offences, but had deliberately not resisted their efforts to restrain him

He said Kellaher, of Bark Road, Litherland, who admitted burglary with intent, was now tackling his drug addiction and was desperate for a last chance.

But Judge Gerald Clifton said: “You are a persistent burglar of dwelling houses.

“The public need judges to send house burglars to prison.”