A "prolific offender" has been jailed for 33 months after a burglary in an east Suffolk village. 

Leroy Lawless, of Albion Street in Saxmundham, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday, November 15 following his guilty plea to burglary and other offences. 

At about 9pm on September 22, Lawless entered a property on Middleton Road in Yoxford.

The 40-year-old used a ladder to enter an upstairs window and stole a number of items including a radio and an iPad. 

The owner of the property was alerted by a neighbour when they saw a ladder had been put up against the side of the wall. 

East Anglian Daily Times: Leroy Lawless, of SaxmundhamLeroy Lawless, of Saxmundham (Image: Suffolk police)

When police arrived they also found the back patio door had been smashed and the back door was left open. 

Officers arrested Lawless on September 22 at a car park in Dartford after police spotted him driving a car which was believed to have been used in the burglary. 

During a search of the vehicle stolen items, a folding lock knife and two small bags of cannabis were found. 

He was also sentenced for possession of cannabis, driving whilst disqualified and possession of an offensive weapon.

Ian McBrearty from Lowestoft CID said: “Lawless is a prolific offender so to see him behind bars is of great satisfaction.

"Burglary is an intrusive crime and can cause considerable misery and distress for the victims so he will have plenty of time to reflect on his actions in jail.”