Drug-addict jailed for £10k burgling spree to fund habit

A serial burglar who carried out a one-man crime spree in February was sentenced to three-and-a-half-years in jail today.

Jason Edwards, of Milley Road, Waltham St Lawrence, pleaded guilty to seven counts of burglary from an address in Clewer Hill Road, Windsor, on February 8 this year.

The 40-year-old got away with at least £10,729 worth of goods, including laptops, jewellery, two guitars, TVs, a games console and mobile phones. None of the items have been recovered.

He was arrested after police matched his DNA to blood found at the break in.

Reading Crown Court heard today how he has been using illegal drugs since he was 15 and was addicted to heroin. He had been out of work since December last year and was facing the stress of paying for his wedding in April - which has now been postponed.

Passing sentence, Judge Stephen John told the defendant that while he accepted he was committing crimes to get money for drugs, there was also a significant financial profit.

Sentencing him to three-and-half-years, Judge John said: "I don't accept that this was a spur of the moment activity."

He warned Edwards that if he didn't complete drug rehabilitation therapy in prison then this would be 'the end of the road' for him.