A MAN who stole an estimated £1,000 worth of jewellery from a Weymouth home has been jailed for more than two years.

David Roy Tavener, 36, was sentenced to 876 days in prison when he appeared at Dorchester Crown Court and admitted a charge of burglary.

Prosecutor Carolyn Branford-Wood said homeowner John Cruickshank and his wife were away from their home in Hill Lane at the time of the burglary, between March 13 and March 17.

She said their cleaner attended the property and discovered the rooms had been searched, although there was no sign of forced entry.

Miss Branford-Wood said Mr Cruickshank returned home to find the police present and jewellery that he said had an estimated value of around £1,000 missing.

She said the defendant was identified through fingerprints found on a perfume box that had been moved in the property.

Tavener admitted stealing nine rings, seven pairs of earrings, four necklaces, three brooches, four bracelets, a set of cufflinks, a watch, 100 Euros in cash and £16.

The court heard Tavener, of Chickerell Road, Weymouth, had 18 previous convictions for 35 offences, including two previous dwelling burglaries.

In mitigation, Tim Shorter said since his latest release from jail Tavener had lived a crime-free lifestyle for around eight months.

However, he ran into financial difficulties after his partner, for whom he was a carer, encountered problems receiving her benefits and the defendant was forced to borrow money from ‘unofficial sources’.

Mr Shorter said Tavener struggled to keep up with the payments and received threats as a result.

He said: “He felt constrained by those threats to try and raise some money to repay at least something and his background, circumstances and previous lifestyle meant that, regrettably, he turned to burglary in order to try and raise that money.”

Mr Shorter added: “He does ask me to express to the property owners his sorrow and remorse.

“He does accept he had no right to go in there and if he had to raise money he should have found some more honest and less disturbing way of doing it.”

Judge Roger Jarvis told the defendant he had an ‘appalling record’ of previous convictions as he sentenced Tavener.

He added: “It is plain that those who suffer from burglaries often experience a sense of loss for years and often feel a sense of outrage for a considerable period of time.”

The Cruickshanks did not want to comment after the case.