A PROLIFIC burglar was arrested for a Great Yarmouth break-in - then confessed to police about 42 other offences he had committed involving valuables totalling more than �55,000, as he wants to turn over a new leaf, a court heard.

A PROLIFIC burglar was arrested for a Great Yarmouth break-in - then confessed to police about 42 other offences he had committed involving valuables totalling more than �55,000, as he wants to turn over a new leaf, a court heard.

Michael Andrews, 48, burgled a home in Lawn Avenue, stealing items of jewellery, and was caught when he tried to sell the stolen items, Norwich Crown Court was told last week.

Robert Warner, prosecuting, said that Andrews, who has a long history of offending, then admitted he had carried out a further 42 break-ins and attempted burglaries - which without his confession would not have been cleared up by Norfolk police.

He said that his offences involved about �55,000 of stolen property, which had not been recovered.

Andrews, of Paget Road, Yarmouth, admitted the burglary at Lawn Avenue and asked for 42 similar offences to be taken into consideration.

Jonathan Morgans, for Andrews, said his record was a “depressing picture” but he now wanted to try to put his offending behind him: “He is absolutely remorseful for what he has done. He now has a desire to change his lifestyle and he wants to make a clean sweep. It is the first real evidence of a real desire to change and put his offending behind him.”

He said that Andrews, who suffers from a psychiatric disorder, hoped his confessions would help his victims move on and he also wanted to apologise to his victims.

Jailing him for 21 months, Judge Paul Downes said he accepted Andrews was remorseful and said: “The court appreciates that you have provided quite lot of evidence against yourself by admitting to other matters.”

He said that he reduced the sentence he would have imposed because of Andrews' attitude and said that he would get the help he needed while in prison to help turn his life around.