Burglar Matt Boulton was jailed for 15 months after he chose to prey on his neighbours.

Boulton, 21, actually bumped into one woman victim and chatted to her before she went away for the weekend.

When the neighbour returned home she discovered her home had been broken into and more than £300 in jewellery and alcohol had been stolen. The jewellery was never recovered.

Another young woman heard scratching on her window late at night. She peered through the darkness and spotted Boulton slicing putty from the window frame.

She was terrified and quickly dialled 999. When the police arrived Boulton, of Long Riding, Basildon, was found in possession of a craft knife.

Boulton, who has previous theft convictions, said he needed money to fund his heroin habit.

He pleaded guilty at Basildon Crown Court to having an offensive weapon, burglary and criminal damage to the window frame.

Boulton made a statement, saying: "I am not a person without feelings. I'm not a horrible person, but when I'm on heroin, nothing else matters."

He was told by Judge Frank Lockhart: "These were particularly mean offences. You were using your local knowledge to steal from your neighbours."

The judge added: "You may have been having a drug problem, but that is no reason why other people should be made to suffer."

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