A BURGLAR has been jailed for four years after confessing to carrying out 47 raids on people's property.

Paul Jackson, 52, admitted two charges of burglary and asked for a further 45 burglaries to be taken into consideration when he was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday, March 10.

At one home, a flat in Manor Road, Bournemouth, Jackson crept in through an open bedroom window while the occupants were watching television downstairs on Sunday, February 5.

He made off with a handbag, wallet and credit cards.

Jackson, of no fixed abode, was arrested two days later in the village of Sway, following reports that a man had forced entry to a property.

He was found with a pillow case containing jewellery, coins and a jewellery box, as well as a screwdriver and gloves.

When questioned by police about the burglaries, Jackson told officers: “Yeah, it was me. I admit doing it.”

As well as admitting the Manor Road offence when he was arrested, Jackson also asked for a number of other offences to be taken into consideration, including offences in the Dean Park and Westbourne areas of Bournemouth.

He was sentenced to four years for each of the burglary offences, to run concurrently.

Detective Constable Christian Bryant, of Dorset Police’s Priority Crime Team, said: “I hope the sentence imposed by the court will send out a strong message that burglary offences such as these will not be tolerated.

“I would also like to take the opportunity to remind all residents to ensure they do not leave windows or doors open and unlocked when they go out.

“Please take some simple crime prevention steps to avoid becoming a victim of offenders such as Jackson.”

Further crime prevention advice can be found at dorset.police.uk