A SERIAL burglar has been jailed for four years after he was convicted of walking into a house and stealing a handbag.

Yesterday Judge Charles Harris sentenced Graham Crutch, of Longore, Stonesfield, to the minimum three years in prison because he is a three-time burglar, plus an extra year because of his criminal record.

Crutch denied committing the crime on the night of February 25 and 26, but a jury at Oxford Crown Court found him guilty after he admitted using bank cards from the handbag to top up his phone.

Merryl Hughes, prosecuting, said the bag had contained, among other things, three bank cards and two purses.

Owner Helen Peto had noticed nine transactions using her bank cards made early on February 26.