A burglar was caught after leaving his phone at a crime scene and ringing it while looking for its return.

Garda John Ryan picked up the call on Paul Cullen's phone, pretending to be the house owner, and arranged to meet the 30-year-old drug addict to give it back.

Cullen, of Clonmacnoise Road, Crumlin, apologised on the phone to Gda Ryan, believing him to be house owner Mark O'Connor.

He told him the burglary and subsequent assault wasn't his idea.

Yesterday Cullen was sentenced to nine years, with 18 months suspended, for this offence, an assault and three robberies at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Cullen had also robbed €100 from a pharmacy after rummaging through a till but was chased out of the shop by a staff member who had armed herself with a stool to protect her from a knife the raider was carrying.

He also robbed a taxi driver of his €50 cash float after holding the man at knife-point.

Cullen has 42 previous convictions, including robbery and criminal damage.