A dimwit Northern Ireland man wore a fluorescent builders’ bib while attempting to rob houses under the cover of darkness.

Bungling would-be thief Stephen Frederick Hamilton was spotted by neighbours who called the cops as he tried to break into houses in Dunlady Manor in Dundonald.

Hapless Hamilton’s 4.30am crime spree came to an end when he was tracked down by officers with the help of a police dog to a nearby supermarket car park.

At Downpatrick Crown last week Judge Peter Gibson labelled Hamilton’s crimes as “amateurish in the extreme” as he gave him a 15-month jail sentence, suspended for three years.

Gambling addict Hamilton, 24, from north Belfast had pleaded guilty to six counts of attempted burglary on February 19.

Belfast Telegraph