A would-be burglar who attempted to break into a house on his own street was stopped by a “nosy” neighbour who called the police.

Gordon McKay, aged 39, of Heath End Road in Flackwell Heath, appeared at Wycombe Magistrates’ Court today (Tuesday) where he pleaded guilty to attempted burglary with intent to steal.

The court heard how on April 2, police were called to a property in Heath End Road, the same street where the culprit lives with his mother, at around 11.30am.

According to the prosecutor, police had received reports from a neighbour that a “suspicious male” was attempting to gain access to a property.

The witness saw McKay walking up the drive of the neighbouring house, and when they went to look out of the back window they saw him trying to “force open” the patio doors of the house.

When police arrived on the scene they found McKay on the driveway.

During a police interview, McKay told officers that he had seen a “nosy woman” and that he had only been knocking on doors to check if the buses were running.

He denied that he was trying to force the patio doors, and had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge, but changed to a guilty plea the day his trial was due to take place.

Defending his client, solicitor Scott Brown told the court that McKay, who has served jail time for other offences in the past, now wanted to put his life of offending behind him.

Mr Brown said: “We are at a crossroads with him. For the first time, he has expressed to us a desire to change and get out of that pattern of being reliant on illegal drugs.

“I think that is the first time that has happened in his adult life.”

The hearing was adjourned so a pre-sentence report could be prepared for the magistrates. The next hearing will take place on August 18.