A BURGLAR is spending his 30th birthday in jail after stealing money from Essex University students’ homes.

Lee Townrow admitted breaking into students accommodation twice, in Lightship Way, Colchester.

The former university maintenance man was jailed for nine months at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Townrow, 30, of Weetmans Drive, in Colchester first broke into the accommodation between January 7 and January 9.

His second offence took place on January 10.

Detectives say the students were targeted because they were foreign nationals.

Townrow, who did not work for the university at the time of the burglaries, admitted both offences.

An Essex University spokeswoman would not comment on the matter further.