A BURGLAR who was found in possession of a stolen medal also snatched ornamental birds eggs and a Zulu horn from a dead man’s home.

Greg Atkins, 43, was foiled after leaving a chisel behind at the scene of a burglary in Belmont Crescent, Colchester.

Ipswich Crown Court heard the occupant had died in June last year.

Lynne Shirley, prosecuting, said one of his neighbours kept a close eye on the property and solicitors were instructed to deal with his estate.

On July 16 last year, a man visited the property to identify items referred to in his will.

Ms Shirley said: “Amongst the items were two eggs in a box, an ostrich and emu egg, and also a large Zulu horn in a drawer under a bed in a front bedroom.”

The man returned on July 22, leaving while everything was in order but coming back five hours later to find the back door open.

He tried to open the front door with a key, but found the chain was on, which he noted had not been the case earlier in the day.

Ms Shirley said: “He thought it may be a person engaged with the solicitors and went back home.

“He returned at 6.30pm and discovered the property was in the same state he had observed at 5pm which he thought was odd.

“The side gate had been forced and the rear side door jimmied open.

“A chisel was at the back doorstep, and another was in the lounge.

“He said the house was a mess and it wasn’t in the state he found it in when he visited earlier.”

Atkins’ DNA was recovered from the chisel by the back door.

Atkins, who has 25 convictions for 61 offences, admitted burglary and five counts of handling stolen goods.

The stolen goods included the ornamental eggs and horn he took in the burglary, as well as a Tiffany bracelet, an Amazon Alexa, a set of binoculars, a 1902 medal, a coin, a heartshaped pendent, a silver cross and a ring.

Barry Gilbert, mitigating, said Atkins had contracted Covid-19 and “had nearly died” while in prison.

Judge David Pugh sentenced Atkins, of Riparian Square, Colchester, to 27 months imprisonment.