IPSWICH: A serial burglar is today starting yet another jail term after stealing a Boom Box cd player from an Ipswich pre-school.

Patrick O’Hara’s latest prison sentence comes only four months after he stopped a police officer in the street to confess to an attempted break-in and burglary.

As a result, the 33-year-old received a total of two years and five months’ imprisonment at Ipswich Crown Court in April for burgling a house in Belle Vue Road, stealing a guitar, and breaking-into a car.

Now, O’Hara has been given a further six-month spell in jail for the burglary at St Mary’s Pre-School in Woodbridge Road, between March 11 and March 14.

Despite the pre-school break-in occurring around the same time as the other offences, O’Hara stayed quiet about it when he gave himself up a week later.

However, while he was in prison serving his jail term, police discovered a fingerprint left at the pre-school belonged to O’Hara and hauled him back before a court.

In addition to the pre-school’s cd player, O’Hara also stole a digital photo frame. Their total value was said to be �140.

O’Hara, of no fixed address, admitted burglary when he appeared before Ipswich magistrates, and also stealing a stereo from a Peugeot 106 on February 22.

He was arrested at about 6pm on March 20 after he walked up to a police officer in St Peter’s Street and owned up to breaking into a car a day or so earlier on Ipswich docks.

During a police interview, it transpired that between March 11 and 13, O’Hara had stolen jewellery, electrical items and other personal possessions during the Belle Vue Road burglary.

O’Hara also admitted he stole a guitar from Suffolk New College between March 17 and 20.

At the same time he mentioned he had stolen a satellite navigation system from a vehicle parked at the docks, as well as committing an attempted break-in in College Street on March 19.

O’Hara has previous convictions for theft, burglary and criminal damage.

n What do you think should happen to persistent criminals who find it hard to cope in normal society? E-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or write to Star Letters, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN.