Neighbours sat on a Chilean man they caught trying to break into a Tolworth house, preventing his escape, Kingston Magistrates’ Court has heard.

Gerardo Canning, 51, claimed he was visiting the UK to collect a family inheritance but was caught trying to break into the Hook Rise South home with a screwdriver.

Canning was sat on when he tried to run away, but his faster accomplice escaped after jumping over the garden wall, the court heard on Friday, June 11.

The homeowner went back inside at about 9.50am on June 10 because he had forgotten something, disturbing the would-be burglars He said: “Both men appeared surprised to see me. Their eyes were wide and they stood still frozen momentarily.

“The man said ‘It’s OK. It’s OK mate. We’re not doing anything’.

“The dog approached them but he is of a soft nature. I took a step forward. Both men then turned and sprinted away from my house as fast as they could.”

Canning was swinging his arms, his eyes were bulging and he was gritting his teeth when he was sat on, the court heard. He was punched and forced to drop the screwdriver.

The court was told that Canning, listening with the help of a Spanish interpreter, had been in the country a month when he was caught.

He had been using a six month tourist visa while he tried to claim an inheritance from the English branch of his family.

Canning will be sentenced later this month.