A prolific burglar with a drug problem who targeted the same home twice in seven years after ‘falling off the wagon’ has been jailed.

Ipswich Star: Burglar Adam BrunningBurglar Adam Brunning (Image: Archant)

Adam Brunning, 34, of Montagu Drive, Saxmundham, was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court after previously pleading guilty to burgling a four-bedroom detached house in Leiston.

The court heard he had been jailed for three years in 2013 after being convicted of three burglaries and asking for 27 others to be taken into consideration.

His latest offence, for which he received 18 months’ imprisonment, occurred between June 11 and June 16.

A laptop, a camera, a radio, DVDs and a large quantity of alcohol were stolen.

The total value of the items was around £400 and the damaged caused to the house during the burglary was said to be £380.

A victim impact statement read out during the hearing said the owner of the home found the break-in deeply distressing, particularly as some of the items were left to his family by his late father-in-law.

The victim said he believed the criminal justice system has failed because Brunning was the same person who burgled their home several years ago and was able to burgle it again despite being put in prison.

The court heard Brunning had 13 previous convictions for 43 offences.

The previous burglary at the property was in 2009 and was one of those Brunning had asked to have taken into consideration at his sentencing in 2013.

Matthew McNiff, mitigating, said Brunning had been engaging in his rehabilitation, but drugs had played a part in his latest offence after he was contacted by someone he knew and history had sadly repeated itself.

Mr McNiff added: “He fell off the wagon and fell into drugs”

Judge David Goodin told Brunning: “You can be left in no doubt at all that burglary of somebody’s home – it doesn’t matter whether it is a mansion or a hut – is an outrage.

“It causes significant stress. It’s a very serious invasion and the courts deal with them seriously.

“When the householder comes back to find out he’s been done again that adds insult to injury.

“When he finds out he’s been done again by the same burglar who has therefore targeted him and targeted his home that becomes even more serious, than it would have been had it been a casual burglary.”