A SERIAL burglar who stole from a centre for adults with learning difficulties has been jailed for three and a half years.

Jason Colin Thorpe, 38, begged a judge not to jail him and said that his upbringing led him into a long-term heroin addiction.

During the height of his addiction, Thorpe used six to eight bags of the Class A drug a day, Dorchester Crown Court was told.

Prosecutor Jennie Rickman said that the care manager of the home in Glendinning Avenue, Weymouth, confronted Thorpe after he broke in through a back door at 6.40pm on February 27.

She added: “The manager saw someone who was in the process of running to the door.

“He said to that person ‘who the hell are you?’”

The court was told that Thorpe, of Ranelagh Road, Weymouth, made off with the care manager’s wallet, containing £10 and three bank cards.

Twelve minutes after committing the crime, Thorpe unsuccessfully attempted to use the card at an ATM.

Ms Rickman said that Thorpe was arrested shortly after at his home at 7.10pm.

Judge Neil Ford was told that earlier the same day Thorpe had appeared at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court accused of breaching a court order.

A further nine charges of burglary were taken into consideration in court.

The court heard that Thorpe had 21 previous convictions for crimes including burglary and dishonesty covering 54 offences.

Making a direct plea to the judge, Thorpe said: “I have been taking Class A drugs for over 20 years. My parents were both drug addicts and alcoholics and my dad was in and out of prison. I didn’t have the best start in life.”

He said that his mother was murdered and his sister committed suicide.

“I’m not looking for sympathy, I just want someone to understand where I’m coming from.

“Being in custody is suspended time and doesn’t work for me,” he added.

Judge Ford said: “The value of the property from all these burglaries varies between nothing at all to jewellery costing £4,000.

“A minimum sentence of three years has to be imposed.

“Clearly with your record, even you must see that it could not be unjust to impose that sentence.”

The 48 days Thorpe had already served in custody were deducted.