A PROLIFIC burglar has been jailed for carrying out dozens of offences.

Jeffrey McKeown, 24, of Star Farm Close, Bradwell, near Great Yarmouth, admitted the offences – some dating back to 2002 – in a bid to “wipe the state clean” and start afresh.

McKeown appeared at Norwich Crown Court yesterday to admit a burglary in Costessey in which two off-road motorbikes worth more then �12,000 were stolen and also breaking into a cafe at Wrentham, near Lowestoft, in August.

He also admitted possession of amphetamine with a street value of �3,000 to �4,000 with intent to supply.

But the court heard that under a scheme in Suffolk for prolific offenders he also admitted 34 other offences in Suffolk and eight offences in Norfolk so he can clear up all his past offending.

The court heard that many of the offences would not have been detected had it not been for McKeown’s own confessions. Most of the offences were thefts from cars and non-household burglaries.

Jailing him for three years, Judge Martin Binning told him: “You want to put your criminal past behind you. I hope the resolve is genuine.”

Ian James, for McKeown, said: “He wants to clear the slate and put things behind him and be in a position to come out from prison with nothing hanging over him,”

He said that McKeown, formerly of Lowestoft, had a young family and could see the impact his behaviour was having on his family.

He said that McKeown had co-operated with police in clearing up past matters – under Operation Converter –and said many of the crimes would not have been detected but for McKeown’s “own candour.”

After the case, Detective Inspector Darrell Skuse, of Waveney CID, said McKeown had been taken out by officers and showed them various locations where he had committed crimes.

“This meant that some of those who suffered garage burglaries seven or eight years ago have finally been able to have some closure, as well as those business owners and residents who suffered more recent offences,” he said.

“It can be quite disturbing for residents and businesses when a number of premises in one area are targeted but, as this case demonstrates, police will not give up on securing a conviction, even if it is several years later.”

THE past offences McKeown admitted include:

- a burglary at business premises in St Marys Street in Bungay in June this year

- burglaries at businesses in Southwold Market Place, Southwold High Street, Halesworth Thoroughfare, two in Halesworth Market Place, one in Bridge Street in Halesworth and one in Peasenhall in August

- the burglary of an outbuilding at Peasenhall and a shop in Leiston in August

- two garage burglaries in Carlton Colville; one on New Year’s Eve 2009 another in July 2010

- the burglary of a shop in Blackheath Road in Lowestoft in November 2002

- theft of coins from machines in a laundrette in Pakefield in November 2006

- thefts from motor vehicles in Victoria Road and Hawthorn Avenue in Lowestoft in 2006 and a burglary at a service station in Mill Road in August 2007,

- a burglary at Kirkley High School in June 2004

- a burglary at business premises in Beccles in May 2007

- burglaries at business premises in Oulton Broad in October 2008 and May 2009 and further garage burglaries and attempted burglaries in Lowestoft in 2003 and 2007, including a spate where at least 13 were broken into.