An opportunistic burglar who raided a shop opposite his home has been jailed for more than three years.

Kevin Short, 34, smashed the glass door of a shop opposite his home in Cowley Road, Oxford, in December last year, and stole some wooden boxes. He was later seen trying to sell the stolen goods at a nearby newsagents.

Short admitted raiding the shop when he appeared at Oxford Crown Court on Monday, January 5.

He also burgled a house in Marston Street, Cowley, on November 11 last year, after finding the back door open. He stole a laptop computer and a wallet.

Police officers later watched him steal a fleece jacket from a double glazing van parked in Oxford and arrested him.

Short, who has previous convictions for burglary, criminal damage, dishonesty and shoplifting, admitted both of the burglaries and theft.

Peter Coombe, defending, said Short's offences were opportunistic and linked to a drug problem which he was trying to tackle.

He said: "He's clearly a nuisance to society but he's not a danger."

Judge Mary Mowat sentenced him to two years and nine months for the house burglary, three months for the shop burglary and one month for stealing the jacket. He will serve at least half of the total sentence of three years and one month.

She said: "You have a fearsome record but you don't appear to be a professional house burglar."