A PERSISTENT crook has been locked up for four years for smashing his way into a string of houses including homes in Clent and Stourbridge to empty them of thousands of pounds worth of valuables.

Carl Shepherd, aged 27, from Dudley, pleaded guilty to five burglaries and one attempted burglary, and asked for five other burglaries to be taken into account at Worcester Crown Court.

His accomplice, 21-year-old Jamie Matthews, also from Dudley, was given a suspended sentence after admitting one burglary and one attempted burglary.

Judge Abbas Mithani QC condemned both men for their involvement in what he said were "appalling crimes".

He said: "There was a certain element of pre-planning, as the occupiers were not at home when you broke in.

"I don't need to tell either of you the effect of your criminal activities on your victims."

He also read a statement from one of the victims, a pensioner, who said he and his wife had been left worried and frightened in their own home.

It went on: "I was shocked initially, and then I became angry. This has affected us so much we are considering moving."

The court heard that together, on June 20, Shepherd and Matthews tried to smash their way into a house in Beech Park Drive, Barnt Green, Bromsgrove, using an ornamemtal barometer.

When this was unsuccessful, they drove to Park Hall Lodge in Birmingham Road, Kidderminster, and managed to smash their way through the patio window.

Prosecutor Paul Whitfield said they then ransacked the house, leaving drawers out on the floor and overturning furniture, before escaping with a 32-inch TV, £200 cash, jewellery, an iPad, a commemorative coin and a bottle of Martini.

They were caught when police spotted their car in Netherton and officers found the haul stolen from Kidderminster, along with various other stolen goods.

The other items - including a box of pearls - belonged to a number of other homes which had been burgled by Shepherd.

One of those targetted was in Old Ham Lane, Pedmore. The incident on June 13 saw around £5,500 worth of precious jewellery snatched by Shepherd before neighbours spotted him jumping over a back fence.

On June 10, he had stolen jewellery from a house in Cherry Hill Road, Barnt Green, while on June 19 he targeted two homes in Clatterbach Lane, Clent, and Fox Lane, Chaddesley Corbett.

His five other offences included break-ins in Bromsgrove and Redditch.

Mr Whitfield said in almost all cases, Shepherd's method of breaking in was to smash through a back window or door, causing considerable damage on top of what was stolen.

Shepherd, of Churchfield Street, Dudley, was sentenced to four years in prison, concurrent on each count.

He was also banned from driving for three years as he had been driving without insurance when committing the burglaries.

Matthews, of Leafy Rise, Dudley, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years.

He was also given a supervision order and ordered to complete a Thinking Skills programme, as well as carry out 250 hours of community service.