AN “incorrigible career burglar” stole charity boxes and cash as he raided churches and local businesses.

Serial criminal Robert Taylor, 42, even switched to breaking in to “non-dwellings” having become aware of the stricter sentences dished out for domestic burglaries.

During January this year he burgled eight properties around Oxford causing “gratuitous damage” in his pursuit of cash, prosecutor Jonathan Stone told Oxford Crown Court yesterday.

Taylor, who admitted three counts of burglary and asked for five more to be taken into consideration, targeted businesses and churches having become “well aware” of the mandatory three-year sentences handed out to people who commit three domestic burglaries, his barrister said.

Between January 1 and 2 Taylor broke into the Oxfork restaurant in Magdalen Road, East Oxford, and took a charity box, an apron and carrier bag.

Two weeks later he took £60 from Hair By Mark in Wilkins Road, Cowley, before committing a flurry of offences between January 20 and 31.

At Holy Rood Church in Abingdon Road, Oxford, Taylor caused damage but failed to get any money. He then broke into the New Testament Church of God in Between Towns Road, Cowley, to plunder £450.

Taylor also made off empty-handed from the Air Training Corps in Marston Road and Parallel Lines barber’s and firm Accident Direct, both in Iffley Road, East Oxford.

His spree was completed by taking £20 from Hollow Way Cafe in Cowley on January 31.

Reverend Everet Palmer, of the New Testament Church of God, said: “The fund would have been spent on reading materials for study groups.

“We were angry and disappointed.

“I think he has a genuine problem and needs to be rehabilitated. We believe in forgiveness and we believe that he should be made to face the consequences of his actions.”

Father Paul King of Holy Rood Church said: “It was hundreds of pounds’ worth of damage. He broke down a couple of doors and forced a window without smashing it.”

Commenting on the fact that Taylor purposely targets non-dwelling properties, Mr King said: “He’s a clever chap.”

Marisa Notarbartolo, of Parallel Lines, said: “He ripped out the partition wall made of plasterboard. There was a mess everywhere.”

Jailing Taylor for three years, Judge Anthony King called the defendant an “incorrigible career burglar” and told him: “You pleaded guilty to a total of eight burglaries, all non-dwellings. You know the ropes as well as I do.”