A 'persistent' burglar, who smashed his way into a Norwich home and stole more than £2000 worth of jewellery has been jailed for 28 months.

Perry Goodall, 37, had only recently been released from prison when he carried out the burglary in Branksome Road, while the owner was away in France, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Martin Ivory, prosecuting, said Goodall used a piece of masonry to smash his way in and had stolen a diamond and emerald ring and a bracelet from a bedside table after searching the property.

A friend, who was looking after the house, discovered the break-in and police were called and Goodall's DNA was found at the scene.

The court heard that Goodall had four previous convictions for house burglary, and had only been released from prison for two months before he carried out his latest offence.

Goodall, of Watling Road, Norwich, admitted the house burglary on Branksome Road, on October 21.

Sentencing him, Judge Katharine Moore told him that she recognised his problems with drink and drugs lay behind his offending but said he had received a variety of offers of help in the past which he had never accepted or complied with.

'There is no more that can be done to help you if you keep rejecting help.'

She added: 'You persistently burgle.'

She warned him that unless he changed his ways his sentences would only get longer: 'This must be the very last time as prison sentences in future will simply get longer and longer.'

Andrew Oliver, for Goodall, said he had problems with crack cocaine and heroin in the past but had managed to come off drugs while in jail.

However when released from his last sentence he felt he did not have any support and disliked the hostel where he was living so started living rough: 'He returned to drug use and that was no doubt triggered by him sleeping rough and he went on a rapid downward spiral into the sort of behaviour he has done before.'

Mr Oliver said Goodall was now clean of drugs again and said: 'There is a real danger of him becoming institutionalised.'