A prolific Oxford burglar who squandered every chance he was given for rehabilitation has been jailed for three years.

Sean Denton, 26, of Normandy Crescent, Horspath, had burgled 21 houses, mainly in East Oxford and stolen at least £26,000 worth of property.

Police said Denton was given many opportunities to make a fresh start, but failed to kick his heroin and cocaine habit or to work with agencies trying to help him.

Denton is now being held up as an example of how offenders who fail to change their behaviour will be taken off Oxford streets and put behind bars.

During his burglary spree, Denton targeted electrical items, jewellery, clothing, toiletries, food and alcohol.

In a burglary in Oxford's Temple Road in November, which Denton admitted, he stole perfume, a camera, a DVD player, a CD player, a mobile telephone, bath oil, bath salts and jewellery.

And in December, Denton admitted committing 20 other burglaries.

Police spokesman Tim Wiseman said: "He was supervised closely by the Intensive Recidivist Intervention Scheme (Iris) team based at St Aldate's police station, who worked tirelessly to help him receive treatment for the addiction to heroin and cocaine that ruled his chaotic lifestyle."

The IRIS team works with offenders to get them to change their habits, behaviour and lives in a bid to reduce crime.

Mr Wiseman said that in November last year Denton was addicted to drugs, homeless, receiving no drug treatment and had turned to crime to support himself.

He said: "The Iris project worked with him to address the underlying problem of his drug addiction, give him access to legitimate benefits and to obtain housing.

"However, he lacked the motivation to continue with the project.

"After repeatedly failing to attend appointments and continuing to take drugs he was arrested and remanded in custody."

On March 10 this year, Denton was sentenced to an 18-month supervision order with a 12-month rehabilitation requirement.

By March 24 he was asked to leave a rehabilitation centre for breaking the rules.

He was jailed for three years on Friday after admitting one burglary and asking for 20 others to be taken into account.

Acting Insp Emma Garside of the Iris team said: "Sean was highlighted as a prolific offender because of his long history of offending.

"Every effort was made to encourage and assist him in changing his ways and for him to make a fresh start, but he scorned every opportunity he was given. Custody ended up being the only alternative.

"The Iris team works hard with our partner agencies to rehabilitate the city's worst offenders, but unless that individual is ready and willing to change these efforts can be frustrated.

"Sean Denton is an excellent example of how a prolific offender who fails to take the opportunity to change their behaviour will end up off our streets and behind bars."