A PROLIFIC burglar who was given a chance to go straight but failed to resist temptation and committed a string of offences has been jailed for five years.

Matthew Hawkins, 30, had his sentence deferred in July 2010 to allow him to turn his life around under the innovative C2 Programme.

He had admitted two burglaries in Stevenage and asked for 46 other offences to be taken into consideration.

As part of the programme to rehabilitate him, he promised not to re-offend.

But in the first two months of last year he committed a dozen burglaries in North Herts.

In February he struck in Hollow Lane, Hitchin stealing cash and jewellery, Meadowbank, Hitchin taking an X-box, Ashwell Road, Baldock where nothing was taken, Cambridge Road, Hitchin where cash and Asian jewellery were stolen and Cashio Lane, Letchworth GC when his haul included digital cameras, tripods, a memory card, laptop computers cash, jewellery, coins, watches, passports, birth, marriage and share certificates and cash.

In January he was in Hitchin Road, Pirton where nothing was taken, Crabtree Lane, Pirton (two laptops and jewellery), Lancaster Road, Hitchin (laptop), Dents Close, Letchworth (Asian jewellery and cash), Grove Road, Hitchin (Asian jewellery and cash), Stevenage Road, Little Wymondley (Asian jewellery and cash), Olden Mead, Letchworth GC (nothing taken).

Hawkins, of Ludwick Way, Welwyn Garden City was recalled to Luton Crown Court last week for sentencing after being taken off his community rehabilitation order.

Det Insp Lynda Coates, who is charge of the C2 Programme, said: “While he has not been able to turn away from a life of crime, despite the help of several agencies under the C2 Programme, this five year sentence means he is off the streets of Hertfordshire and unable to continue committing burglaries.”