A PROLIFIC burglar who carried out a string of break-ins including stealing from a Norfolk hospital, school and hotel was last night starting a three and half year jail term.

A PROLIFIC burglar who carried out a string of break-ins including stealing from a Norfolk hospital, school and hotel was last night starting a three and half year jail term.

Stephen Edhouse, 40 stole two cameras from the James Paget University Hospital at Gorleston. He also broke into a room at the Victoria Hotel in Yarmouth and stole a purse, cash and two mobile phones.

He also broke into Cliff Park High School, Gorleston and took �5.

Edhouse of no fixed address also admitted a burglary in Milton Keynes and asked for 46 other offences to be taken into consideration which include a number of break-ins at commercial premises.

Norwich Crown Court heard that Edhouse had 34 previous convictions for 81 offences.

Judge Simon Barham told him he had a “terrible record” and said: “As you know with your record a substantial term of imprisonment is inevitable.”

Katharine Moore, mitigating, said that Edhouse wanted to wipe the slate clean and had co-operated with police telling them about his offences.

She said he had a difficult childhood with no proper guidance and had drifted into taking drugs.