ANEW Forest man has been sentenced to 29 months in prison for a burglary in Fordingbridge.

Sean Jonathan Cooper, 28, of Narrowleaf Drive in Ringwood, pleaded guilty to the offence at Southampton Crown Court on Friday, January 6.

A further four burglaries committed by Cooper in September 2022 were taken into consideration by the judge when passing sentence.

The court heard how between 3am and 1pm on Sunday, November 6, Cooper gained entry to an address on Bowerwood Road in Fordingbridge by breaking a downstairs bathroom window.

Cooper was identified after a blood sample was found in the bathroom, and two fingerprints were found on broken glass from the window.

Cooper was arrested and remanded into custody on Monday, November 28.

He appeared at Southampton Magistrates Court on Wednesday, November 30, where he was further remanded until his sentencing.

Police staff investigator Stephen Hortin of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s dedicated burglary unit, Operation Hawk, said: “We take burglaries very seriously, and we will use all the tools at our disposal, including forensics, to bring offenders to justice.

"I hope this result offers closure to both victims, and serves as a warning to others who think about committing such crimes."