A Felixstowe couple returned home from their stag and hen nights to find a drunk burglar asleep on their sofa and the bride-to-be’s wedding dress had been thrown on the floor, a court has heard.

Michael Day and his fiancée got back to their home in Maidstone Road at around 4.30am on October 8 and discovered 57-year-old Thomas Money, who’d been released from prison earlier that day, in the living room.

Money was asleep on a sofa and Mr Day had demanded to know what he was doing there before pulling him off the sofa, Ipswich Crown Court was told today.

Michael Crimp, prosecuting, said Money had mumbled something and thinking he was drunk Mr Day had taken him to the front door.

At that point he noticed two school bags and an overnight bag which had been packed full of his family’s belongings.

As Mr Day walked Money down the garden path he asked him:”Why would you do something like this?” and as they reached the garden gate Money had punched Mr Day near his right eye and cheekbone.

Mr Day took hold of Money in a bear-hug and they fell to the ground where Money bit Mr Day’s thumb, causing the skin to break.

The police were called and Mr Day managed to restrain Money until the police arrived, said Mr Crimp.

Money, of no fixed address, admitted burglary and assault and was jailed for three years and six months.

Sentencing him Judge David Goodin said that during the burglary Money had urinated on a rug. “This was a vile desecration of this family’s home. Mr Day and his partner were looking forward to their marriage and you took her wedding dress and hurled it to the floor,” said the judge.

Andrew Spence, for Money, who has more than 100 previous convictions, said his client had been released from prison earlier that day and had been drinking in Ipswich before catching a bus to Felixstowe to look for somewhere to spend the night.

He said Money had a history of drug and alcohol and misuse and was disgusted with himself for committing the offence so soon after coming out of prison.