A VULNERABLE man's life was turned upside-down by a 'mean' burglary which left him afraid to go out alone, a court heard.

William Wells, 25, kicked down Matthew Simmons’ door and stole a laptop, games console and other personal items.

His accomplice, Samuel Nicolle, also 25, admitted handling stolen goods.

The victim, who has Asperger’s, had just managed to live independently in a flat in New Street. He was “very nervous” of his neighbour, Wells, who lived in the flat below his.

On May 16, 2014, he returned from a day with his parents at 11.45pm to find his door open and his belongings on the landing.

Fearing he had been burgled, Mr Simmons called his parents, who came and called the police.

Two men jumped from the balcony below Mr Simmons’ flat and ran off. They were later arrested.

Prosecuting, Charles Gabb said the pair had known Mr Simmons, 31, was vulnerable, and had left fingerprints on several items.

The judge, Andrew Barnett, said Nicolle’s history of criminal damage, burglary and assault was “appalling”.

The court heard the ordeal had badly affected Mr Simmons’ confidence when he had been making “a great effort to live independently for the first time”.

He now never leaves the house alone and relies entirely on his parents once again.

Wells, of New Street, Salisbury, admitted burglary.

Three doctors agreed he had schizophrenia, and Judge Barnett ordered him to be detained under the Mental Health Act.

Nicolle, of Ashley Road, Salisbury, was sentenced to four months. It broke the terms of a suspended sentence he had previously received, meaning he was jailed for six months.

Defending Nicolle, Adam Feest said: “Prison would be a short-term solution, leading him back to where he is now.”

But Judge Barnett said he would be failing in his duty if he did not jail Nicolle, adding it was a “particularly mean offence” and he saw no reason to suspend the sentence.

He said he was very sympathetic to Mr Simmons’ plight: “The fact is, neither of you behaved as particularly good neighbours and now you must take the consequences.”