A PROLIFIC burglar has been locked up for three years and nine months after confessing to breaking into 46 houses.

Timothy Alston, 23, of Whaddon Avenue, Chelten-ham, pleaded guilty to burgling a house in Rectory Lane, Malvern, on June 8, and a property in Oxhill, Warwickshire, on May 15.

He also asked for 44 other burglaries to be taken into consideration.

Alston was spotted walking away from the scene in Malvern with a black case, which turned out to be full of stolen jewels Prosecutor Derek Ryder told Gloucester Crown Court none of the items had been recovered.

Steve Young, defending, said drugs were an issue: "He was clean when he was released from his last sentence in December 2005, but unfortunately he started to mix with some old friends went back to using.

"His family are very supportive of him. He rang the police and arranged his own surrender, knowing what was going to happen.

"He hopes when he comes out, his family will take him away from the area to Bristol and he won't fall into the old cycle."

Judge Martin Picton said: "I am pleased that you managed to get clean and have the support of your family. I don't regard you as being beyond hope."