A MAN who burgled homes, possessed cannabis and drove without insurance has been jailed.

Anthony Higgins, aged 31, of Beaufoy Close, Shaftesbury, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court on Tuesday after admitting three charges of burglary.

He was also sentenced for handling stolen goods, possessing a class B drug, careless driving, driving whilst disqualified and driving without valid insurance.

The first recorded offence took place at around 3.50pm on December 15, when Higgins entered the Spar store in Mampitts Lane, Shaftesbury, and asked a staff member to check a scratch card for him while he walked around the shop.

He was seen entering a backroom storage area and after being challenged by a member of staff, three bottles of cider were found in his backpack and he was banned from the store.

Staff later realised however that Higgins had taken store keys from the door.

Later that night Christmas presents were stolen from a Shaftesbury address, including a laptop, wallet and iPhone.

A second burglary took place during the early hours on December 17, in which more Christmas presents, war medals, a bank card and other items were stolen from a property in Shortedge, Sturminster Newton.

Items stolen from the second burglary were later found in Higgins' car, when he was stopped by officers for driving around 80mph in a 60mph zone, where he almost hit an oncoming vehicle at a roundabout.

An inspection of Higgins' home also revealed items stolen during the Shaftesbury burglary, as well as items linked to another Shaftesbury burglary that took place earlier in the month.

After Higgins was arrested he was searched in custody and was found to be in possession of a wrap of cannabis.

Higgins was sentenced to two years and 146 days in prison and was disqualified from driving for 12 months, which will begin when he is released from prison.

Sergeant James Francis, of North Dorset Police, said: “Anthony Higgins is a repeat offender who targeted a number of premises in a short period of time in December last year.

“I am pleased that through the work of officers we were able to quickly identify him as the man responsible for these offences and he was arrested before he could commit further burglaries.

“I am also glad that we were able to recover many of the items that were stolen in the burglaries.”