A PROLIFIC burglar has been jailed after targeting a number of businesses in an attempt to clear his drug debts.

Glenn Fielden broke into a WT Fabrications, Total Fitness and Kulaz Barbers over a ten day period but only managed to steal £850 in cash from the barbers shop.

Teesside Crown Court heard that the 30-year-old had a long list of convictions including several for burglary of both homes and businesses.

Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, said amongst his other crimes the defendant had smashed the window Tan and Go and stole a charity box from the business.

Alex Bousfield, mitigating, told the court that his client had been drug free since his last imprisonment and was treating his addiction with a methadone programme.

He said: "The offences on this occasion was not to fund the ongoing use of drugs, he indicated that he had amassed a drug debt previously and the man he owed money to had just come out of prison and wanted his £1,000."

Mr Bousfield said he left empty handed after trying to find money at WT Fabrications on August 27 and also failed to find any cash when he broke into Total Fitness on the night of September 4.

However, he did find money when he broke into the barbers on September 6.

He added: "He has been very foolish to commit these offences and set himself back and he couldn't complain if he was sent back to custody."

Judge Deborah Sherwin said: "I have to sentence you for three burglaries on commercial premises over a period of ten days. You are somebody who has a long history of previous convictions over the years.

"One of the main problems you have had in the past is your addiction to drugs and a lot of your offending has been to fund your addiction.

"You still owe money to people who sold you drugs and I know, in my role, these people are very firm in demanding their money back. Having said that, I can't condone committing more offences to fund that."

She added: "Taking £850 from the till and causing £200 worth of damage has had a real impact on the gentleman and his ability to run his business."

Fielden, of Bridge Road, Stockton, was jailed for six months for Kulaz Barbers burglary and given two three month sentences for the other two burglaries, which will run consecutive with the first.