A MAN involved in a life of crime has been jailed for four and a half years following a burglary in Biggleswade. William Martin, 39, of Sandy caught a bus to Biggleswade and broke into a detached house in Holme Court Avenue but was disturbed when the pa

A MAN involved in a "life of crime" has been jailed for four and a half years following a burglary in Biggleswade.

William Martin, 39, of Sandy caught a bus to Biggleswade and broke into a detached house in Holme Court Avenue but was disturbed when the parents of the home owner arrived to collect her post as she was abroad.

"It must have been a very frightening experience for them," Judge Michael Kay QC told Martin, who was on licence from his last prison sentence at the time.

He fled the house and scaled a six-foot fence, said Mustapha Hakme, prosecuting at Luton Crown Court on Friday.

Police found a crowbar hidden in grass nearby, and scoured CCTV footage at the nearby B and Q store and saw that Martin had stolen it from there shortly before the burglary on October 3 last year.

Martin, from Friars Walk, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft. He was jailed for three years and four months for the offences but must first serve the remainder of his last sentence making a total of four and a half years.

Mr Hakme said the house had been untidily searched and property moved ready for removal.

Sally Meek, defending, said: "It is 'here we are again' I'm afraid. He is intelligent and articulate when in custody and off drugs, but the problem is he finds there is no support when he is released and he resorts to drugs again."

Judge Kay said Martin had 23 previous convictions for burglary, 12 of them on houses.

He told him: "There comes a point when most individuals realise there is nothing to be gained from committing offences and going back to prison. That usually comes at a younger age than you are.

"To say you have been involved in a life of crime is a reality in your case.