A PROLIFIC thief has been jailed for 14 months for burglary.

Benjamin Evetts, 19, of Kingsbury Street in Marlborough, admitted burgling a house in Ludgershall on August 11 last year.

Salisbury Crown Court heard on Friday that Evetts broke into the house between 1.30am and 5.30am and stole a Playstation 3, a Dell laptop, two watches, £60 cash, a diamond and gold ring, a mobile phone and some other items, with an estimated value of £1,888.

Prosecuting, Jeremy Wright said Evetts told police he was drunk at the time and followed someone else into the house through an open door, his accomplice took the other items but he was handed the games console and the laptop. He also admitted stealing the watches, one of which he had thrown away. It was later recovered.

The owners of the house were away at the time but their sons were at home. A statement from one of the victims said: “Since the burglary I don’t feel safe in the house. It is a horrible feeling to know someone has been in my house. My partner works nights and if the kids are not here I call a friend over to be here with me.”

The court heard Evetts has 21 previous convictions, including burglary and theft from a dwelling.

Defending, Charles Cochand said although he had a lot of previous convictions, Evetts had stayed out of trouble for 14 months and had shown genuine remorse and concern for the victim.

“It was not planned, it was a spur of the moment thing and he regrets it deeply,” he said. “He is determined to make this right and he does have plans for his future.”

Judge Douglas Field said: “You have a very bad record for such a young person. These offences cause real upset to the people who own these premises. It’s far too serious an offence to let you off with a suspended sentence.”

Evetts was ordered to pay a £100 victim surcharge.