A BURGLAR who planned to steal cigarettes from a Hampshire shop was foiled thanks to a previous burglary at the same premises.

Billy Collins, one of two men who broke into McColl's convenience store at Stubbington Green, was forced to flee empty-handed, Southampton Crown Court was told.

Martin Booth, prosecuting, said the shop had been the victim of a previous break-in.

Following the earlier raid staff had moved all the cigarettes to what Mr Booth described as a "separate and secure" part of the building.

A car seen near McColl's at the time of the second break-in was found abandoned nearby, resulting in the defendant's arrest, the court was told.

His fingerprints were found inside the vehicle and a footprint left at the scene of the burglary was matched to a pair of trainers belonging to Collins, 31, who admitted burglary.

The court heard he had previous convictions for offences including theft, burglary and dangerous driving.

Last summer Collins, then living at Roundhill Close in Townhill, appeared at Southampton Magistates' Court and pleaded guilty to trespassing with intent to steal.

He was handed a community order and ordered to pay £250 compensation.

Describing the McColl's break-in, which occurred on June 14 last year, Judge Christopher Parker told him: "You didn't get away with any property but that wasn't through lack of effort.

"You have a long string of previous convictions and this was a serious offence."

The court heard that Collins was serving a 55-month jail term for earlier crimes and was not due to be released until January 2020.

For breaking into McColl's he was handed a 12-month jail term, which will run concurrently.