A burglar was traced by a fingerprint he left on the window frame of a house he attempted to break into, a court heard.

James Cooper had fled after a 55-year-old woman, who was asleep in the house in the Vineway, Dovercourt, was woken by the sound of him clambering in through her bedroom window.

The woman shouted at Cooper, who ran off.

But his accomplice stood in the garden and threatened her, the court heard.

He ran off after she started screaming, and then the woman called the police.

Cooper was identified through fingerprint evidence and arrested.

The 22-year-old admitted burglary on May 4 when he appeared before Colchester Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The other man has not been traced.

Steven Levy, mitigating, said Cooper was "extremely ashamed" of his actions.

"On the night he had drunk a large quantity of alcohol, and while I am not suggesting this is an excuse, it is a disinhibitor," he said.

The case was adjourned for sentencing at Chelmsford Crown Court on August 13.

Cooper, a father-of-one, was released on bail, with conditions that he must live at his house in Nayland Drive, Clacton, and be on curfew between 10pm and 6am.