A SERIAL burglar from Great Yarmouth was jailed for more than two years on Friday after he confessed to carrying out 35 burglaries and thefts across Norfolk and Suffolk.

A SERIAL burglar from Great Yarmouth was jailed for more than two years on Friday after he confessed to carrying out 35 burglaries and thefts across Norfolk and Suffolk.

Matthew Eke was caught by police when his shoe prints were found by detectives after he broke into a flat in Newmarket in January.

After his arrest Eke, of Southtown Road, told police he had committed 34 other burglaries and thefts across both counties.

Eke, 32, pleaded guilty to the Newmarket burglary at Ipswich Crown Court and confessed to his other crimes in order to put a line under his past offending which had been linked to his crack cocaine use.

Michael Crimp, prosecuting, said that on January 18 Eke had broken into a woman's flat in Rowley Drive while she was in bed.

Mr Crimp said: “She was surprised to see this defendant entering her bedroom. She shouted at him. He said nothing and walked out.”

His female victim was said to have felt “pure dread” as she saw Eke walk into her room and she was still upset when police arrived.

Eke also had 63 previous convictions for dishonesty, burglary and shoplifting in Norfolk and Suffolk.

Jeremy Kendall, representing Eke, said his client had confessed as he was anxious to draw a line under his offending, which had been previously linked to taking crack cocaine.

Eke was sentenced to 876 days in prison, minus 42 days he had already spent in custody.