A judge told a prolific burglar that the tradespeople of Ipswich “deserved a rest” while handing him a two-and- a-half year prison sentence for more than 30 break-ins.

Serial offender Thomas Moore is today waking up behind bars after admitting a string of crimes.

The 23-year-old, of no fixed abode, carried out a spree of burglaries during which he broke in to more than 30 business premises in the Ipswich area, including a post office and shops.

Property worth more than £12,000 was stolen during the raids and damage valued at £6,000 was caused to the premises which were broken into, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Moore admitted two burglaries and two offences of shoplifting and asked for 30 burglaries at business premises and 11 offences of theft to be taken into consideration.

Sentencing him, Judge David Goodin said: “The tradespeople of the Ipswich area deserve a rest from your activities. It really was a spree of offending over a significant period.”

However he acknowledged that Moore had contacted the police and told them about offences he had committed because he was anxious to make a clean start when he was released from prison.

“It would be unjust not to factor into the sentence the fact that you volunteered a great deal of this information and put yourself in the frame for these offences,” added the judge.

Robert Sadd, prosecuting, told the court that Moore had broken into Central Building Supplies in Derby Road, Ipswich, on April 17 last year and had stolen power tools worth £2,600.

In December 2012 he had broken into a store in Greenfinch Avenue and had removed a wall safe containing £6,000 cash and scratchcards.

The court heard that the burglaries to be taken into consideration had taken place at premises including a post office in Nacton Road, Ipswich, a shop in Ellenbrook Green, Ipswich and a hair salon.

Ian Duckworth, for Moore, said his client’s offending had a background of drug addiction.

He said Moore had been receiving help for his drug problem while he had been in prison and he was anxious to make a clean start when he was released from prison.

He said Moore had committed the burglaries at business premises with other people and was anxious not to go back to his old ways.