A Man who committed a string of burglaries, most of them at commercial premises, has been jailed for a total of four years. Daniel Shaw carried out a burglary at Wade Ceramics, Burslem, in April this year, taking a wallet belonging to an employee who had left his office.

Peter Grice, prosecuting, told Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court that the wallet contained £500 and credit cards. He said that incident was captured on CCTV. The wallet was later found in a pub nearby, which Shaw had visited.

Mr Grice said in August, the defendant committed two house burglaries, one at the living quarters of a pub in Newcastle, where money, a mobile phone, two watches and a bracelet were taken.

He told the court that some time later, a woman who was alone in a flat was horrified and distressed when she came across Shaw on a fire escape outside, carrying a bag belonging to her.

Mr Grice said Shaw had 41 convictions for burglary, all but two of which were at commercial premises.

Shaw, aged 27, of Brundal Oval, Bentilee, pleaded guilty to two dwelling-house burglaries, one commercial burglary, and handling goods stolen from a raid at a Chinese restaurant. He asked for seven other burglaries at commercial premises to be taken into consideration.

Judge William Everard said the total sentence he was imposing on Shaw was one of four years, which included 12 months outstanding from a previous prison licence.

He told the defendant: "You have an appalling criminal record. All manner of sentences have been given to you in the past."

Peter McCartney, defending, said Shaw knew he faced custody.

He said the offences were indicative of a man whose life had been blighted by drugs. Heroin had been his undoing, and time and again he had been sent to prison.