Burglar face to face with 6ft Vietnam veteran

BURLY six foot Vietnam War veteran Ernest Rogers-Williams confronted a burglar and demanded: "What the hell are you doing in my home?"

By The Newsroom

Published 17th Jul 2003, 12:40 BST

Updated 7th Jun 2018, 20:10 BST

A bizarre conversation followed in which the intruder claimed he was homeless and thought American-born Mr Rogers-Williams town centre flat was "derelict."

But the former U.S. 1st Infantry Division soldier found that the raider had stashed computer equipment ready to make off with it.

Now police have congratulated Mr Rogers-Williams on giving them a description so accurate that they were able to arrest 30 year-old David Douglas Johnstone, of Pebsham, shortly afterwards.

At Lewes Crown Court recently Johnstone pleaded guilty to burglary and was given a 140-hour community punishment order. The Sussex Police Brighton Trials Unit wrote to Mr Rogers-Williams to thank him.

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