A BURGLAR who stole more than £3,000 from a Cowley home has been jailed for four years.

Nathan Bourton, 30, of Iffley Road, was found guilty at Oxford Crown Court of burglary at a house in Kelburne Road.

The court heard Bourton smashed a pane of glass in the back door and stole more than £3,000 in cash, as well as two laptops and two phones.

He was arrested in Magdalen Road on February 22 in possession of about £2,800 in cash.

A fingerprint belonging to the victim of the burglary was found on one of the notes found in Bourton’s possession.

During the three-day trial, Bourton maintained the money was not from the burgled premises but from his brother.

But the jury unanimously found him guilty.

His Honour Judge Gordon Risius sentenced Bourton to four years in prison on Wednesday, taking into account his previous convictions, which includes 16 burglaries.

Speaking after the case, investigating officer Pc Anthony Hodgetts said: “When he is released from this sentence he faces a simple choice, he can either do something more profitable with his life, or should he continue burgling he will quickly find himself back in prison.

“Only he can make that decision.”