AN Ipswich man who offended to finance a lifestyle he could not afford on benefits has today been jailed.Unemployed John Millwood, 40, was jailed for 30 months as Ipswich Crown Court could not find a suitable alternative sentence.

AN Ipswich man who offended to finance a lifestyle he could not afford on benefits has today been jailed.

Unemployed John Millwood, 40, was jailed for 30 months as Ipswich Crown Court could not find a suitable alternative sentence.

Recorder Martin Griffith said Millwood, of Hyntle Close, had a long record of offending by dishonesty and has been in and out of prison after short sentences have been passed.

Michael Crimp, prosecuting, said on May 8 Millwood pulled a wooden board away from a glassless window in a Waterloo Road property and stole a man's wallet, a handbag and a mobile telephone.

On June 4, the day Millwood had been released from custody after serving a short sentence for an earlier crime, he broke into a house in Westerfield Road. The householders were away on holiday when Millwood forced open the front door and stole a fax machine and two telephones.

Although Millwood pleaded guilty to committing the two burglaries, he continued to tell the probation officers he had not broke into either address.

Ruby Hamid, mitigating, said the level of the burglaries was low and there were no aggravating features. She said: "These were unsophisticated burglaries by someone who is not a burglar."

Mr Griffith said the probation service did not believe a community penalty was suitable and Millwood's history proved that short prison sentences had no effect on him.