A would-be burglar made two farcical failed attempts to break into an Aldi store, including attaching a cable to a stolen car and trying to force open the doors.

Jeffrey McKeown, 32, of Hillside Road East, Bungay, and another man first used a crowbar to try to prise open the sliding doors of the supermarket in Millennium Way, Lowestoft, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

When that failed they attached a cable to the car and attempted to open the doors that way, said Matthew Sorel-Cameron, prosecuting.

He said that one of the men was wearing a balaclava and the other was wearing a hoodie. 'It is believed they were attempting to steal an ATM machine,' said Mr Sorel-Cameron.

He said that £3,500 damage was caused to the sliding doors during the attempted burglary.

McKeown admitted attempted burglary at the Aldi store on July 6.

He also admitted burglary at a property in Gisleham on May 16 and stealing a BMW X5 and a Range Rover after stealing the keys to the vehicles during the burglary. He asked for eight offences to be taken into consideration.

Jailing McKeown for 31 months Judge David Goodin said the burglary at the property in Gisleham had taken place while the home owners' and their children were asleep at the property.

He said the burglary had a devastating effect on the family. 'Their home life has been cheapened by the burglary and the enjoyment of their home has also been affected,' said the judge.

He said the vehicles stolen during the burglary were of high value and other people must have been involved in the crime.

Daniel Taylor, for McKeown, said his client was a father of four and had a 'dispiriting' criminal record.

He said that although McKeown had a history of committing non-dwelling burglaries he only had one previous conviction for a house burglary.

He said McKeown hoped to undertake courses while he was in prison which would help him get work on his release and allow him to lead a law abiding life in the future.