A dishonest Ipswich man who was caught by police after his DNA was found at the scene of two break-ins and a theft has been jailed for 20 months.

Forensic scientists found Marc Nicholls’ DNA on a pick-axe which had been used to smash open a wooden door at the premises of Fakeover beauty salon on the Station Road industrial estate in Elmswell on February 22, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

His DNA was also found on a screwdriver which had been used during an attempted burglary at the Clare Park Lake and Golf Club on February 25 and on a cigarette found at the scene of a theft of an £800 outboard motor in Woodbridge in January, said Richard Wood, prosecuting.

Nicholls, 34, of Hawke Road, Ipswich, admitted two burglaries, theft and attempted burglary.

The court heard he had committed 132 previous offences including 58 of theft and burglary.

Mr Wood told the court that Nicholls had stolen £470 from the Fakeover salon after smashing a door open with a spade and pick-axe found at the scene.

Several days later Nicholls broke into Wayne Clerkin Motor Repairs in Stoke Road, Clare, and stole a generator. On the same evening he had attempted to break down a door to an outbuilding at Clare Park Lake and Golf Club.

He had disturbed the owners of the business who woke up and came downstairs and saw someone acting suspiciously and unsuccessfully gave chase, said Mr Wood.

Andrew Shaw, for Nicholls, said his client’s cousin was one of the victims of Ipswich serial killer Steve Wright.