A prolific burglar has been jailed for three years under the three-strikes rule after being caught when he dropped his P45 during a break-in.

Alistair Thompson, 39, of Field Avenue, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, admitted two burglaries and asked for a further 34 burglaries and attempted burglaries to be taken into consideration in his sentence.

Peter Coombe, prosecuting, said Thompson got into a home in Cowley Road, Oxford, by smashing a window on October 22 last year.

He stole a Panasonic stereo worth £90 but dropped his P45 on the way out.

He also burgled a home in Lower Icknield Way, Chinnor, on November 11 and stole property worth up to £2,320.

He also admitted stealing a purse and its contents from Deborah Tipping on December 2.

He admitted aggravated vehicle taking by stealing her Vauxhall Frontera and driving it straight through her gates, causing £55 damage to them.

The car was discovered badly damaged in Boar's Hill that night and was declared an insurance write-off.

He also admitted using the Vauxhall without insurance in Windmill Road.

Gideon Cammerman, defending, said drug addiction had dominated Thompson's life.

He said his client had been desperate to put his problems behind him but previous attempts at rehabilitation had proved unsuccessful.

"He has made two serious attempts on his life since in custody, one by hanging and another by harming himself with a blade," Mr Cammerman said.

He said his client had demonstrated "almost foolhardy honesty" by telling police about every offence he could remember so they could be taken into consideration in sentence.

Recorder Conrad Seagroatt QC sentenced him to three years for the Cowley Road burglary and three years for the Chinnor break-in, to run concurrently.

As this was the third time Thompson had been sentenced for committing burglary since November 1999, he received a mandatory three-year minimum sentence.

He was also given two-year jail sentences for aggravated burglary and theft, concurrent to the three years for burglary.

There was no separate penalty for driving without insurance.

The judge told Thompson: "You invade people's homes and unsettle their lives."