A man has been jailed for six years after admitting to more than 30 burglaries in Weymouth, Dorchester and Purbeck.

David Clift, aged 47 and of no fixed abode, appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court to be sentenced on Tuesday, June 18 after pleading guilty to nine burglary offences as well as a charge of assaulting an emergency worker and a fraud offence.

He also asked for a further 23 burglaries to be taken into consideration when he was sentenced.

He was charged with nine commercial burglaries that occurred in Swanage, Weymouth and Dorchester between Wednesday, December 13 2023 and Tuesday, February 27 2024.

Premises targeted included cafés, churches and a hair salon.

Local neighbourhood teams from Dorset Police worked with investigators from the volume crime team to compile evidence of Clift’s offending, which included CCTV and forensic evidence, and the defendant was arrested on Wednesday, February 28.

While he was in custody, Clift spat at and kicked out at an officer.

In December, Clift stole a bank card belonging to a client of Elanor Nursing and Social Care in Poundbury.

READ MORE: Arrest after bank card stolen from care firm in burglary and used 24 miles away

The bank card was subsequently used to carry out fraudulent transactions in the Poole area - 24 miles away.

A spokesperson for Eleanor Nursing and Care Home said: "I would like to thank police for their hard work in bringing the man to justice.

"It was distressing for our client, it happened on the weekend and we only found out on the Monday.

"Things like this don't happen often in Poundbury, it was clearly prolific though and it is horrible to have been a part of that."

In February, Clift stole toys and snacks after breaking into a children's soft play centre.

100 Giggles - a café and soft play area for children in Bridport Road - was broken into sometime between 5pm on Monday, February 26 and 8.15am the following day.

READ MORE: Children’s play centre targeted by thieves

He stole toys, Belgian buns and a cookie - which owner Adriana told the Echo amounted to around £10.

Clift was subsequently charged and at court he admitted a further 23 burglary offences – 15 in Weymouth, four in Dorchester, two in Wareham, one in Swanage and one in Crewkerne in Somerset – which were taken into account when he was sentenced.

Police constable Dave Williams, of the volume crime team, said: “David Clift is a prolific offender who repeatedly targeted commercial premises in the Weymouth, Dorchester and Purbeck areas.

“We fully recognise the impact offending of this nature has on businesses, with many of those targeted by Clift being smaller independent retailers.

“With local officers from the neighbourhood policing team, we are committed to taking action against offenders such as Clift so they can be held accountable for their crimes.”

Neighbourhood Inspector Sam Goom, of Weymouth and Portland Police, said: “Weymouth and Portland has low numbers of burglaries, but we recognise the impact these offences have on victims when they happen.

“David Clift was a one-man crime wave. Officers from across Weymouth and West Dorset worked diligently and quickly to identify and apprehend him. Our relentless approach has ensured he has faced justice in the courts.

“I hope this brings the victims some satisfaction. His sentence will ensure the public are protected from him for some time.”