A BURGLAR who has racked up 77 convictions has been jailed for five years.

Gary Denham, 47, stole thousands of pounds of jewellery to feed his drug addiction during his latest crime spree.

When Denham was caught, he told police he was on a suicide mission to get arrested.

He burgled four homes and tried to break into twomore during a three-day crime spree in Clacton, between June 2 and June 4.

Mark Lakin, prosecuting, told the court he started in Holland Road, taking more than £1,500 property, including jewellery, cash and a kindle.

He said: “The victims had left the house in the evening and returned to find it ransacked.”

The next evening he burgled a house in Kings Road, breaking a window to get in, before stealing jewellery.

A victim statement was read to the court by Mr Lakin which revealed the victim is leaving the area as a result.

It read: “I no longer sleep very well. Every noise I hear I think someone is going to break in again.”

The same night, Denham raided a home in Parkway leaving an axe and chisel in the conservatory among the broken glass.

This time he took almost £1,400 in jewellery and electrical items.

During the third day, he broke into a house in St Johns Road.

The court was told the victim now sleeps downstairs with their children and has had CCTV installed.

The same night he tried to burgle a house in Cottage Grove where an 82-year-old multiple sclerosis sufferer lives.

A teenager later spotted him trying to get in to a property in Kings Road.

Police were called and found him.

Mr Lakin told the court Denham’s “burglary career” started when he was a youth.

He said: “He expressed disgust at himself and said he would rather be dead or back in prison.

“He admitted the money was for drugs.”

Denham warned police to watch out for needles when they searched his home and told officers “I was on a suicide mission to get arrested”.

Penny Simons, mitigating, said he was clean when he came out of prison in July last year.

She told the court he blamed the Probation Service for a lack of help before he was back taking drugs.

Denham, of Swift Avenue, Jaywick, admitted burglary, attempted burglary and criminal damage.

Judge Christopher Ball QC said: “I am seriously tempted to up the ante, but I will give you credit.

“You came out clean. You plainly can clean up when inside, but it is no good when things go against you on the outside going back to the drug habit.

“You have to take responsibility for your own actions.”