A man caught prowling around a woman's house in Devonshire insisted he was only looking for a place to sleep, Magistrates' Court heard.

John Cook, of no fixed abode, was ordered to return to court next month for sentencing.

The 25-year-old pleaded guilty to attempting to steal 30 compact discs, valued at $600, and prowling around a house on Meadow Lane on April 19.

However he told the court he was drunk at the time, and had no recollection of events.

The court heard that the home owner left her red Renault motor car closed but not locked. Inside were documents and 30 CDs. When the woman returned to the car, she found Cook inside.

She watched as he escaped and then called Police, who took fingerprints inside the car.

Cook was brought into the station on September 8 for an unrelated matter, at which point Police were able to connect his fingerprints with those inside the woman's car.

He initially denied entering the property or car on the date mentioned. However during a subsequent interview, admitted that he may have been drunk and looking for a place to sleep that night.

Cook admitted he had known the home owner pretty much all his life. He maintained that he wasn't trying to steal anything from her, and only looking for a place to crash.

He said: "I didn't know what to plead here today it's just not me. I had no place to stay at the time either."

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner ordered a social inquiry report and released Cook on $2,000 bail.

"I hope this report will assist us to how I should proceed with this matter," said Mr. Warner, before ordering Cook to appear back in court on February 19.