Norfolk burglar's career of 27 years and 100+ offences

Darren Broome, 46, already has 27 previous convictions for 90 offences.

He appeared in court on Thursday having admitted a further four offences - including burglary and attempted burglary - and asking for another 32 to be taken into consideration.

Norwich Crown Court heard Broome was a drug addict who had been raiding homes in the county to feed his addiction, with offending dating back to 1996.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Ian James, prosecuting, said Broome was spotted by a householder at South Road, Gorleston, who looked out the window and saw him propping a ladder against the back of the house, on September 1 this year.

Broome ran off but 11 days later he broke into a property in Gordon Road, Great Yarmouth, causing £1,000 worth of damage, before stealing items, including a bank card.

He later used the card to buy tobacco and get £20 cashback in a Londis store in the town.

He was arrested after he was recognised from CCTV at the store.

Broome, of no fixed abode, appeared in court on Thursday having admitted attempted burglary, going equipped for burglary, burglary and fraud.

Darren Broome (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)He also asked for 32 other offences - including 15 domestic burglaries and 11 thefts from motor vehicles - to be taken into consideration (TIC).

Jailing him for a total of four years Recorder Peter Guest said: "People are entitled to feel secure in their own homes."

He said: "I've no doubt you would be outraged and angered if someone broke into your mother's home and stole from her.

"But that is what you have been doing for no other reason than a selfish one of feeding your own addiction."

"The public must be protected from you."

Danielle O'Donovan, mitigating, said Broome was "and has been for a long time" a class A drug addict and was "part of the revolving door problem with class A addicts".

She said until he dealt with his drug addiction he was going to be before the courts but "wants to be clean".