A SOUTHAMPTON burglar trying to feed his "£100 a day drug habit" decided to set fire to a house in order to cover his tracks – to the tune of £25,000.

He then went back the next day to see how much damage he'd caused.

Leon Butt was sentenced to four years behind bars at Southampton Crown Court on Friday after admitting the charges of two counts of burglary and one of arson with reckless endangerment.

Butt, who celebrated his 21st birthday in prison two days before his sentencing, was still on licence when he began looking for a house to burgle in April this year.

He then broke through a back window into a house on Longmead Road in Thornhill on April 28th.

The house, which was unoccupied at the time, was searched through by Butt, who when in the bedroom, realised he had cut himself, and was leaving drops of blood behind him.

Prosecuting, Siobhan Linsley told the court that Butt guided the household's dog down the stairs as he 'wasn't that heartless'.

She said: "When the defendant realised he was bleeding, he then proceeded to get a nearby lighter and set fire to the curtain in the main bedroom.

"He guided the dog downstairs before leaving the property.

"It wasn't until neighbours saw the smoke that they called the fire brigade, who believed the fire had been started deliberately.

"There was significant smoke damage, which the insurance company amounted to £25,643.98."

The court then heard how Butt, who had escaped the scene unhurt, went back past the house the following day to see how much damaged he had caused.

Defending Butt, Stephen Parish, told the court that the fire was not set in any attempt to endanger life, but a 'foolish attempt to cover his tracks'.

Two days after setting fire to the house in Thornhill, Butt also entered a house on Dean Road in Southampton, and stole an iPhone and bank card – while those in the house were sleeping.

It wasn't until the homeowner used the 'track my phone' app to find the iPhone that police found Butt.

Officers also discovered a ring that had been taken from the house in Thornhill, and Butt was charged with the two burglaries.

Sentencing him to four years in prison, judge Peter Henry said Butt would be spending many more birthdays behind bars if he didn't change his attitude.

He added: "It's sad to see a young man have a really appalling criminal record."