A BURGLAR who started re-offending within hours of being released from prison has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.Neil Broomfield, 30, was released half way through a six week jail sentence on November 5 last year and later that day broke into a family home in South Close, Bury St Edmunds.

Jane Hunt

A BURGLAR who started re-offending within hours of being released from prison has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Neil Broomfield, 30, was released half way through a six week jail sentence on November 5 last year and later that day broke into a family home in South Close, Bury St Edmunds.

He kicked his way into the premises while the owners were out and stole cash, electrical goods and a Volvo car worth a total of £3,000, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

In a statement read to the court the occupier of the house described returning home with her two young daughters while her husband was out of the country to find their home had been burgled.

The woman said that as a result of the burglary her eight-year-old daughter was too frightened to go upstairs in the house on her own and the whole family had been left feeling vulnerable.

The court heard that later the same night Broomfield had been disturbed during a burglary at another house and had then attempted to break into a further property.

Broomfield, of Oliver Road, Bury St Edmunds admitted three offences of burglary, one offence of theft and asked for 17 offences to be considered.

Michael Crimp, prosecuting, said the offences came to light after Broomfield was arrested for unrelated offences and volunteered to take police officers on a tour of the area to identify properties he had burgled.

These included the house in South Close, a property in Horsecroft Road, Bury St Edmunds during which a plasma television, power tools and a Porsche car worth a total of £13,500 were stolen.

On another occasion Broomfield entered the Minden Rose pub through an insecure door and had caused £3,000 damage to a games area.

Mr Crimp said the damage to the premises had been described by the owner as “complete devastation”.

Nicola May for Broomfield said he had decided to make a clean breast of the burglaries after being arrested for unrelated matters.

She said her client had committed the offences to fund a spiralling drug habit.

At one time he had shown promise as a footballer but had thrown that chance away by his chaotic lifestyle and repeated offending.