A burglar with a fetish for women's underwear has been detained under the Mental Health Act.

Alan Reilly, 33 was arrested after he broke into a neighbour's flat and rummaged through her linen basket.

When other occupants at Tavistock Place, Bedford, became aware he was there, they confronted him.

Reilly immediately told them: "I can't help it," and said he was going to confess.

Judge Michael Kay QC said because of Reilly's previous criminal record for burglary he would have been due to be sentenced to a three-year minimum term.

But he said three experts agreed that Reilly had a mental illness that could be treated.

The judge said: "All three agree that you suffer from a mental disorder and that is the sexual preference of fetishism and it is appropriate that you be detained in hospital for medical treatment."

Reilly had pleaded guilty to the burglary that was committed on April 23 last year, and was sentenced at Luton Crown Court on Thursday.