A BURGLAR who left a family frightened their safety after he raided their Cheney Manor home laughed as he told police he would do it again “but only for £50,000”.

Marcus Salaman was spared jail after a Swindon judge heard he had limited convictions, suffered mental health issues and had admitted the break-in.

Judge Jason Taylor QC told the 42-year-old his actions had a clear and tangible effect on the homeowner.

He added: “Anyone who’s been burgled can empathise with that and you were singularly lacking in empathy when you thought it was funny to joke in interview you would do it again but only for £50,000.

“In my judgement it was telling at the time. You were unremorseful and unrepentant.”

The crown court heard Salaman and friend Daniel Ebanks went tooled up to the Cheney Manor home of CCTV firm boss Chris Locke last October.

After casing the house the pair struck at around 9am, shortly after Mr Locke’s wife had left. Prosecutor Lucy Taylor said Ebanks forced a rear window. Salaman, wearing a distinctive fluorescent jacket, climbed into the home, reappearing within minutes.

When the homeowner returned 10 minutes later she was told by a neighbour that two men had climbed over a rear gate into the garden.

The bedroom had been searched. In all, an estimated £3,300-worth of property was stolen including cash, a wedding watch, sunglasses and electronic kit.

At the time Mr Locke spoke of the effect on his young family. “These burglars just don’t understand the impact on people’s lives.

“We were going to check into a hotel for the first 24 hours. We don’t want to stay here. We don’t feel safe.”

Salaman, of Woodsman Road, Penhill, pleaded guilty to a single count of burglary.

Defending, Chris Smyth said his client had suffered with serious mental ill health. A letter from a psychiatrist said he had been known to Swindon mental health services for many years. The barrister suggested his client had been influenced by others. “It’s hard to think he’s come up with this idea.”

Salaman was in stable accommodation and had been accompanied to court by his father.

Prosecution and defence lawyers disputed what had been taken by Salaman.

Judge Taylor said it would make little difference to the overall sentence, which he set at 10 months imprisonment suspended for a year and a half. Salaman must complete a 12 month mental health treatment order.

“If you breach that order, Mr Salaman, you will come back before me because I’m reserving you to myself. I will remember you. If you breach this you are going to prison,” he warned.

As he left the dock the defendant promised: “I won’t, your honour."

A restraining order bans him from going to Cheney Manor Road.