A burglar who targeted a string of homes to pay for his drug habit was described by a judge as a "menace to householders".

Anthony Masih, 26, of Oxford Road, Old Marston, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment at Oxford Crown Court.

He was convicted on April 24 of two counts of burglary by Oxford magistrates.

Sue Davies, prosecuting, said Masih burgled a house in Crotch Crescent, Marston, on April 1. He stole electrical equipment worth £2,400.

At 2.30am the following day Masih burgled a property in Lewell Avenue, Marston, while the occupiers were in bed. He stole £4 from a windowsill.

Police stopped him after he was spotted running in the street and found £4 in his sock. Miss Davies said: "Found at the defendant's home address was a red-handled screwdriver, a torch and a pair of gloves secreted under the defendant's car."

John Cammegh, defending, said his client was keen to get off his £300 a week heroin habit and break the cycle of offending.

Mr Cammegh said: "The irony is he received a job offer at BMW in Cowley very shortly before these offences were committed.

"At the moment he says he is desperate to be free of drugs and live a more stable life."

Masih asked the judge to take a further four burglaries into account.

Judge Peter Crawford QC told Masih: "In order to fund your heroin habit you committed six significant burglaries. You are a menace to householders."