A would-be burglar who was foiled by a “nosy” neighbour has been ordered to pay hundreds of pounds after he admitted his crime.

Gordon McKay, 40, of Heath End Road in Flackwell Heath, attempted to burgle a house in the same street where he lives on April 2.

A neighbour who had spotted McKay attempting to “force open” the property’s patio doors called the police, and when officers arrived they found the offender on the driveway.

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At Wycombe Magistrates’ Court on August 23, McKay was ordered to pay £720 in costs after he had pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted burglary. He was also given a community order.

When he appeared in court in July, the magistrates heard how McKay had told police during his interview that he was knocking on the doors of the house to check if the buses were running.

He also told police that he had seen a “nosy woman” while he was there.

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McKay had initially denied the charge, but in July he changed to a guilty plea. His lawyer Scott Brown told the court that he wanted to put his life of criminal offending behind him.

As part of his community order, McKay has been ordered to undertake 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.