A CAREER criminal walked out of an open prison just months into serving a jail sentence – and carried out two burglaries.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Craig Hayler had been locked up for more than four years when he left the prison to carry out the “nasty” break-ins at a number of guest houses.

Gained trust Recorder Jonathan Swift heard how Hayler gained the trust of people running the guest houses before stealing cash and mobile phones from both of them.

The court heard how he was arrested at a house in Hedge End where he was staying.

Police officers deployed to the scene recovered one of the stolen phones, said prosecutor Sadie Rizzo.

She told the court how Hayler had served less than a year of a 51-month term which had been imposed for burglary and theft when he decided to walk out of Ford Open Prison, near Chichester.

Deception Hayler, 31, of no fixed abode, admitted committing two counts of burglary and one offence of escape and obtaining accommodation at a guest house by deception.

Asking for four other offences to be considered, he was jailed for 45 months which will run concurrently with his present sentence.

In mitigation, Richard Martin said the offences taken into consideration would have been cleared up but for his admission.