A WOMAN saved her car from being stolen after spotting the thief sat in the vehicle outside her home.

Quick-thinking Jessica Wood rushed outside to find the burglar ducked down in the driver's seat with the engine running.

But after she demanded he hand over the keys Justin Adamson got out of the vehicle and walked off.

The prolific criminal was sentenced to 876 days in prison when he appeared at Bolton Crown Court and admitted burglary.

Rachel Widdicombe, prosecuting, told how Mrs Wood was in the kitchen of her home in Greenfold Lane, Westhoughton, just after 2pm on December 13 last year when she head a faint knock at the door.

"She thought it was the next door neighbour's little boy but then saw that the front door was wide open," said Ms Widdicombe.

Standing outside, with two bags in his hands, was 42-year-old Adamson, who asked her if "this is the house that buys things?"

After being told it wasn't Adamson left but then Mrs Wood noticed that her car keys, normally kept on the stairs, were missing.

After checking her coat pocket, and still could not find them, she went outside.

"She saw that the headlights to her car were on," said Ms Widdicombe.

"Initially she didn't see anyone in the car but then she saw the defendant slumped over the steering wheel, motionless."

A boy passing by told her he had seen the man getting into the car and they both ran to the vehicle as the engine started.

"Because it had been left in gear it lunged forward, hitting the bins," said Ms Widdicombe.

Mrs Wood opened the passenger door and he demanded Adamson give her the keys, which he claimed he had found on the ground outside.

"He then walked off making a gun gesture towards Jessica Wood as he did so," said Ms Widdicombe.

Adamson, of no fixed address, was arrested on December 22 and the court heard that he already has 57 previous convictions for 109 offences, including four house burglaries.

Mark Friend, defending, said that Adamson wanted to be sentenced immediately.

The latest burglary made Adamson subject to a mandatory minimum jail sentence, less a discount for a guilty plea and so Judge Timothy Stead jailed him for 876 days