A sharp-eyed neighbour helped police arrest a gang from Newport who had broken into a garage in South Pembrokeshire.

The gang had targeted Pentlepoir garage, Tenby Road, and used a car fitted with false number plates for the job.

Robin Rouch, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court how the garage owner, Paul Coleman, had recently taken over a petrol station next door and had had the garage shop refitted.

The burglars broke in just days before the shop was due to open and got away with £600 worth of cigarettes and caused £400 worth of damage.

Mr. Rouch said the raid triggered an alarm and a neighbour looked out of his bedroom window to see a man climb out of a window and get into a car.

He gave police a description and they soon spotted a vehicle on the A40.

As they approached, the car slowed and a man jumped out and ran away. They car then sped away, but again slowed to allow a passenger to run away.

Anthony Johansson, aged 31, was arrested, but denied being involved in the burglary.

But police recovered the cigarettes and found his fingerprints.

On Thursday, he admitted burglary.

A woman driving the car was also arrested and will be sentenced later.

The court heard that Johansson was under a supervision order at the time for previous offending.

Judge Huw Davies said the raid had been pre-planned and the gang had travelled from Gwent in a car fitted with false number plates.

Johansson was sentenced to 36 weeks in jail, suspended for 12 months.