A builder fought off three thieves in his back garden wearing just his underwear.
Simon Downs had been at home after his building work had been "rained off", when he heard some rummaging around the side of his house.
The father of five had assumed it was one of his children returning home but then spotted the crooks trying to make off with his scrap metal.
When the 39-year-old challenged the intruders, they started to attack him using a metal bar, before Mr Downs, wearing only his underwear, punched one of them and blocked their exit.
A nearby postman came to assist Mr Downs, but it was at this point the thieves fled to their waiting van.
Despite recovering all of the scrap lead, Mr Downs said he is worried they may return to his home in Quidhampton, near Salisbury, Wilts, and the ordeal has left him 'a bit shaken up'.
Mr Downs claims he "rammed" a metal bar through one of the windows of the van as it sped off.
Around 30 minutes after reporting the theft to Wiltshire Police, the van was located and has since been seized by police. It was untaxed and without an MOT.
When he went to watch the CCTV footage of the incident, the file had been corrupted and Mr Downs questions whether the camera had been tampered with too.
Luckily, none of his children were in the house when the incident took place.
Despite recovering all of the stolen goods, Mr Downs said the ordeal has left him "a bit shaken up" and he is worried the offenders will come back.
Three men subsequently appeared at Swindon Magistrates' Court, Wilts.
Ion Olareanu, 33, of no fixed address, Salisbury was charged with theft and was ordered to pay £253.
Vasile Marin, 27, of Plumstead High Street, Greenwich, was charged with assault by beating and theft.
He pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay £537.
Gige Marin, 32, also of Plumstead High Street, was charged with assault by beating and theft. He pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay £602.
Speaking afterwards, Mr Downs said: "It's a slap on the wrist.
"You get assaulted in your own home with a bar and they get to walk free."
Despite recovering all of the stolen goods, Mr Downs said the ordeal has left him "a bit shaken up" and he is worried the offenders will come back.
Wiltshire Police confirmed the three men had been dealt with in court after the theft.
A spokesperson said: "Officers were called to an address on March 9 following a report that three men had been witnessed stealing scrap lead from the side of a house.
"They were challenged by the homeowner and arrested a short time later."
