A security app alerted a man that his Cotswolds village home was being burgled soon after he had left it - and also filmed the two intruders breaking in, Gloucester Crown Court was told today.

The victim raced back to his house in Hazleton, near Northleach, to find the back door broken, muddy footprints up the stairs and jewellery missing from the bedroom, the court heard.

CCTV recorded by his security app showed two men arriving in a silver pick up truck and forcing entry - then leaving a short time later, said prosecutor Alex Daymond.

Appearing via video link, Ray Walton, 44, of Swindon road, Cheltenham, admitted burgling the house on November 16, last year.

He was due to be sentenced today by Judge Ian Lawrie QC - but the video link and Skype system that the court has been using since the coronavirus lockdown began failed and the exasperated judge was forced to adjourn the hearing till June 23.

Walton had pleaded guilty to breaking into the house in Hazleton and stealing two gold/diamond rings, two watches, a bracelet and other jewellery of unknown value.

As Mr Daymond was telling the court about the offence, Judge Lawrie interrupted to say he could see that Walton was 'getting agitated' because he could not hear anything that was being said.

Walton was appearing via a video link system from a courtroom at Cheltenham Magistrates Court while barristers in the case were using a Skype link - a clash of systems that has caused disruption in many cases in recent weeks.

Judge Lawrie said he could see 'agitated semaphore from the defendant' indicating he could not hear.

"We are having real chaos at the moment," said the judge. "I cannot sentence a man who cannot hear us. It's so chaotic."

He told Susan Cavender, defending, that a new 'all singing all dancing' cloud platform link system is being launched in his court next week and he would rather continue the case against Walton when that is operating.

"I entirely understand," said Ms Cavender. "It would be wrong to proceed in the circumstances."

Adjourning till June 23, the judge granted Walton bail and told him and the barristers "My apologies for the delay. Profuse apologies to you all. This has been a lot of messing about."