A Lowestoft burglar who stole property worth more than �7,000 during a spate of house burglaries in north Suffolk during the summer has been jailed for 30 months.

Kadeem Walton was in the grip of a 'spiralling' drug addiction when he carried out the raids in Frostenden, Darsham. Benhall, Walpole, Yoxford, Knodishall, Rendlesham and Otley between the beginning of June and the end of August, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Walton, 21, of London Road South, Lowestoft, admitted burglary at a detached house in Low Road, Benhall, and asked for seven other house burglaries and burglary at an ice-cream parlour in Aldeburgh High Street to be considered.

He also admitted being in breach of two suspended sentences.

Jailing him for a total of 30 months on Monday, Judge Rupert Overbury described Walton as a 'persistent, daytime, rural burglar'.

He said that in addition to stealing property worth �7,500 he had also caused more than �1,000 worth of damage.

Judge Overbury said burglaries caused untold misery to homeowners and their families and the unpleasant memories of what had happened to them would last longer than any sentence he passed on Walton.

Robert Sadd, prosecuting, said the owner of the house that was broken into in Benhall in August had been working in an office in the garden when he saw Walton and another man break a window and enter his home.

While the man called the police, Walton and his accomplice made an untidy search of the house, during which they threw items from cupboards on to beds.

Walton was caught after the police helicopter joined the search for the burglars and he was found in possession of bank notes, two cameras and a purse, said Mr Sadd.

Matthew Sorel-Cameron, for Walton, described the burglaries as unsophisticated and said his client broke into houses so that he could steal items to raise money for his spiralling drug habit.

He said Walton had been frank with police and had made admissions about other burglaries which he had asked the court to be taken into consideration.

'He is deeply remorseful and ashamed for his behaviour,' said Mr Sorel-Cameron.