A burglar caught climbing out a window claimed he had little memory of being in the house due to a brain injury, a court has heard.
Daniel Simpson was jailed for four months after he admitted breaking into the north Belfast property.
The 26-year-old, of Cliftonville Road in the city, was arrested in the early hours of April 30 this year.
Belfast Magistrates' Court was told a woman living on Upper Cavehill Road became concerned someone was trying to get into her home after she heard scraping and tapping noises.
Mark O'Connor, prosecuting, said police were contacted and arrived to find a man climbing out a window.
He was detained and searched, with tools and a strip of Temazepam drugs said to have been found on him.
During interviews Simpson said he had little recollection about the events.
"He claims to have a brain injury from a recent assault, did not remember being at the house but claims that he observed the window broken a bit and that he removed some of the glass," Mr O'Connor added.
A bike allegedly blocked his entry into the room.
Simpson pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal and possession of Class C drugs, the Courts Service confirmed.
Sentencing him to four months imprisonment, Deputy District Judge Trevor Browne also ordered destruction of the Temazepam pills.