A sex offender who went on the run from a London hostel and committed a string of burglaries in Norwich, was today jailed for a total of five years.

A sex offender who went on the run from a London hostel and committed a string of burglaries in Norwich, was today jailed for a total of five years.

Gary Nathan, 40, was on early release from a six-year prison sentence for robbery and indecent assault when he went on the run and came to Norwich, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Phil Chanley, prosecuting, said Nathan broke into homes in Adelaide Street, Tillett Road, and Heigham Grove, stealing items which he then sold to try to raise money for his drug habit.

After seven months on the run, Nathan was caught after he tried to sell some stolen DVDs to a shop in Magdalen Street.

The court heard that Nathan was placed on the sex offenders register for life and jailed for six years for robbery and indecent assault in 2002.

Nathan, of Globe Place, Norwich, admitted three burglaries and failing to notify the police of his change of address. He also asked for 19 offences of theft and burglary to be taken into consideration.

Jailing him, Mr Justice Etherton said that victims of burglary were left with feelings of “violation and insecurity”. He added: “For seven months you were deliberately in breach of your obligation to register”. He said Nathan had done this to avoid detection by police.

Guy Ayers, mitigating, said Nathan's hopeless addiction to Class A drugs lay behind his offending. He said Nathan found it difficult to live in the London hostel following his early release so he had panicked and had gone on the run.