A PROLIFIC burglar has been jailed for three years, eight months and labelled a career criminal by a judge.

Judge Sean Morris had offered Ashley Simpson the chance to return a wedding ring he stole from a house in Stockton and said if it were found he would take it into account when sentencing.

But after being taken to the scene by police and telling a court he knew where various stolen items were, Simpson failed to find them.

The 30-year-old, from Hartington Road, Stockton, stole the £200 ring, £700 worth of holiday savings and £180 from two children’s money boxes in the burglary on August 3.

Simpson, who admitted burglary, has seven previous convictions for house breaking dating back 14 years.

His lawyer Andrew Turton said it was a “mean, serious” offence.

Simpson was trapped after his blood was found on furniture, while a footprint was also found on a door that had been forced open in the burglary.

Judge Morris said Simpson was a “career criminal” and jailed him for 44 months.