A burglar who broke into a house in Colchester while the owners were away on holiday had been jailed for three years.

The burglary at the property in Gavin Way was discovered by a neighbour and when the owner returned home he found property worth nearly £2,000, including £1,200 cash and foreign currency had been stolen, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

A mobile phone that was also stolen during the burglary was later discovered by police in a toilet cistern at the property where 39-year-old Daniel Cornell was staying, said James Lachovic, prosecuting.

He said that when police officers went to Cornell’s address he was seen leaving the property through the bathroom as they entered through the front door.

Mr Lachovic told the court that Cornell’s DNA was found on a black strap that had been left at the house in Gavin Way.

Cornell, of no fixed address, admitted burglary at the property in Gavin Way in January last year and handling keys and an Audi car stolen during a burglary at Briarwood End in Colchester in September last year.

Cornell, who has a number of previous convictions for house burglaries was jailed for two years send four months for the burglary in Gavin Way with eight months to run consecutively for handling stolen goods.

Sentencing Cornell, Recorder Ian Evans said the fact that Cornell was in possession of the Audi the day after it was stolen in a burglary was an aggravating feature of the case.

Mr Lachovic said the day after the Audi and keys to the vehicle were stolen information was provided to the police that Cornell had been seen driving the vehicle.

The following day on September 7 Cornell was arrested when he returned to a hotel where he had been staying and the Audi was found nearby.

Paul Donegan for Cornell said his client had been having counselling and was hoping the latest convictions would be his last.