Lee Bowen returned to a house he had burgled overnight to apologise almost a year after the crime . A burglar with a guilty conscience returned to a family 's home to give them £400 in cash and apologise for breaking into their home while they slept , almost a year after the crime . Lee Bowen , 27 , turned up at the house in Merthyr Tydfil in south Wales with a wad of bank notes to apologise for stealing mobile phones , a laptop and cash cards while they slept on New Year 's Eve . But the astonished family decided his apology was not enough and reported him to police , with Bowen being promptly arrested . Jason Williams said the money was 'no compensation ' for what Bowen had put his family through . The 'habitual criminal ' had broken into the family home on New Year 's Eve 2013 as they slept , Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard . But plagued by a guilty conscience , he returned to the house in November and said ' I burgled your house last year.. I 'm very sorry . Here 's £400 . ' The family reported him to police and Bowen was arrested the following day . He admitted everything to officer , even taking them to the street and pointing out the house he had targeted . The court heard Bowen has appeared in court 19 times for 45 offences including six previous house burglaries . Andrew Davies , defending , said : 'Although a habitual criminal he is trying to get his life on track . He is attempting to turn his life around . ' A judge let Bowen walk free from Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court because he is trying to 'turn his life around ' . Recorder Paul Hopkins QC told him : ' I am satisfied that the time is right to give you the opportunity to make a life for yourself . ' Bowen offered the family £400 in cash by way of apology but they reported him to the police over the burglary . Bowen , of Merthyr Tydfil , was given a 12-month community order with supervision after he admitted burglary . He was warned that if he breached it he could be looking at at least four years in jail . Bowen was also told to pay the family £700 compensation - £300 more than he offered on their doorstep .
Lee Bowen burgled a house on New Year 's Eve 2013 as the family slept . He stole mobile phones , a laptop and cash cards from Merthyr Tydfil home . Bowen returned to scene of the crime almost a year later to apologise . A man has been jailed for stealing £40,000 in goods worth But the Williams family reported him to police and Bowen was arrested . Judge said he was trying to 'turn his life around ' and told him to pay £700 .