A 42-YEAR-OLD serial burglar who first broke into a house when he was just 17 has been jailed after admitting ransacking a Cheltenham home and stealing thousands of pounds worth of cash and jewellery.

Justin Leach of Tiny Meadows, Evesham stole £4,500 worth of property from the house in Albemarle Gate, Cheltenham on February 28 to fuel his crack cocaine addiction, Gloucester Crown Court heard yesterday (Friday).

Jailing the father-to-be for two-and-a-half years, Judge Jason Taylor QC said: “The occupants had left their house and you smashed a door and a window to get in.

“You stole jewellery and cash which were of sentimental value and you ransacked their home. This had a traumatic effect on the householders, especially the wife. You were identified by blood found at the scene.

“You are a serial criminal and committed your first burglary when you were just 17. You have an appalling list of previous convictions, you are a 'third striker', not for the first time, and you have clearly not learned your lesson.”

The court heard that just before the burglary Leach had broken up with his pregnant partner and the only way he could cope was to turn to crack cocaine.

Leach was sentenced by video link from HMP Hewell where he has been in custody on remand since arrest.