And Finally... Man steals cabbie's phone - then calls for a list - then gets arrested

Staff had been told about the raid and recognised Don's number.

They told the teenager a taxi would be there shortly but called the police instead. Ormerod was stunned when two officers arrived.

Don, 53, said the call was logged as "Don calling" when the burglar rang in March.

He said: "The controller rang me at home to ask if I got my phone back because someone just used it to call a taxi. I was stunned."

Don added: "The lad really dropped himself in it. It was only by his own sheer stupidity that he was caught. He must be the unluckiest burglar in the world."

Ormerod also stole Don's laptop and a set of car keys and drove off in a Zafira parked outside.

The car was owned by Don's girlfriend Val Thompson, who was upstairs at the time of the break-in.

Ormerod, of Torquay, Devon, admitted burglary and being in a vehicle taken without consent. He also pleaded guilty to two charges of theft and a shoplifting charge.

Val, 57, added: "It was an amazing coincidence he should ring Don's firm. But it's left me paranoid about being home alone. I don't think people realise how they can mess up your life doing something like this."

Ormerod was freed on bail by Torquay magistrates and will be sentenced next month at Exeter crown court.