A man has been jailed after admitting carrying out multiple burglaries across Somerset and Dorset.

Luke Spencer, of Corfe Mullen, Dorset, was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court to three years and one month in prison having previously pleading guilty to four counts of burglary.

Sentencing Spencer last week, the judge also took into consideration three other burglaries and an attempted burglary which he accepted responsibility for.

In addition to the burglary offences, the 35-year-old also admitted one count each of going equipped to steal, assault causing actual bodily harm and driving without insurance.

The offences took place in January and April this year in Bridgwater, Curry Rivel, Taunton and Wellington in Somerset as well as Mosterton and Sturminster Marshall in Dorset.

Among the offences, Spencer smashed his way into the Spar shop in Mosterton while in possession of a hammer.

The victims – a man and a woman – both sustained injuries during the incident that are not believed to be serious.

A cordon was put in place outside Mosterton Spar after the burglaryA cordon was put in place outside Mosterton Spar after the burglary (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Investigating officer PC Brennan Brown said: “Luke Spencer is a prolific criminal who repeatedly broke into commercial addresses to steal tobacco products for his own gain.

“Spencer had no choice but to plead guilty due to the evidence we gathered, and I hope his pleas along with the sentence he has subsequently received, provide some reassurance to the businesses he targeted and the wider community how seriously both the police and the courts take this kind of offending.”