A BURGLAR who broke into schools four times within a fortnight of coming out of prison is back behind bars.

David Evans was yesterday jailed for a total of two years by a judge who told him non-custodial sentences had done him no good.

Evans was described by his own barrister as "an unsophisticated offender" and "clearly a nuisance who causes distress to people who work in schools".

The 23-year-old had been out of jail for a previous burglary for two weeks when he went on a ten-day spree, stealing from schools on Teesside.

He broke into Holy Trinity C of E School, in Hartburn, on June 16, and then the Ian Ramsey School, in Stockton, the following day, before returning on June 20.

Teesside Crown Court heard how a total of £1,200 damage was caused to the schools, and property worth £840 was stolen.

Johanne Kidd, prosecuting, said Evans raided Grangefield School in Stockton on June 26 and stole two telephones and a ring, but was arrested the following day.

Heroin addict Evans, of Borough Road, Middlesbrough, who admitted burglary, has a string of previous convictions for break-ins and has served a number of jail sentences.

Paul Cleasby, for Evans, said: "It is sad that at 23 he finds it easier to exist in a custodial environment than he does when he is at liberty.

"The scarce resources of the probation service meant he was placed in a bed and breakfast, in Middlesbrough, when he was released.

"But he didn't like it, and moved back to Stockton to stay with his sister and straight back to his old associates and heroin.

"He appears to get most pleasure while in custody, doing his job working in the kitchen, where he has a purpose and order and structure to his day. That immediately evaporates when he is released."

The Recorder of Middlesbrough, Judge Peter Fox, QC, jailed Evans for 18 months for burglary and added six months from a previous sentence, from which he was released early.

Judge Fox said: "If you want to ruin your own life through heroin, it is a matter for you, but you are not going to, as far as I can help it, affect the lives of others."