A man is accused of breaking into a woman’s home – and sneaking past her sleeping five-year-old daughter’s bed.

Prosecutors allege Alex Clifton, 24, burgled the property in Evenlode, Banbury, on June 1.

The female householder, whose male partner was staying the night, allegedly heard a noise downstairs at around 11.40pm.

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When she checked her home’s CCTV system at 5am the following morning, she was said to have seen a man in the house, Oxford Magistrates' Court heard.

He was said to have gone into the daughter’s bedroom – as well as other rooms in the house – and walked past the sleeping girl.

Among the items allegedly taken in the break-in were tobacco, a mobile phone and cash.

Clifton, of Wayfarings, Banbury, was unable to enter pleas to the charge of domestic burglary when he appeared before the city's magistrates’ court on Thursday, as the charge is indictable only – meaning it can only be dealt with at the crown court.

Chairman of the bench Helen Robins told the defendant, who sat in the dock with his eyes down, that he would be remanded in custody to appear at Oxford Crown Court on July 22.

Burglary carries a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment, although punishments vary. A minimum sentence of three years applies to ‘third strikers’ with at least three domestic burglaries on their record.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @t_seaward