A BURGLAR who stole precious jewellery from a home in North Petherton has been jailed at Taunton Crown Court for four years following his fourth conviction for breaking into houses.

Shane Baxter, 29, from Millstream Gardens in Tonedale, near Wellington, pleaded guilty to two offences in June when he stole jewellery from a North Petherton house and a violin and camera from a house in Milverton.

A 14-year-old boy was alone in the North Petherton house and watched Baxter during his daytime raid while hiding in the bathroom.

Police arrested Baxter the day after the second burglary, following his attempt to sell the jewellery to a shop in Bridgwater.

The stolen items have now been returned to the owner.

However, the burglar had already sold the camera, and neither that nor the violin have been recovered.

Judge Geoffrey Mercer QC heard how Baxter suffers an addiction to so-called legal highs and had shown regret for what he had done.

Before sentencing him, Judge Mercer said: “You are a persistent burglar of houses.

“You understandably had a devastating effect on the people whose houses you have burgled.

“I’m told you are full of remorse, and so you should be.”

Baxter was jailed for three years for each burglary, with the sentences to run concurrently.

Judge Mercer also jailed him for one additional year when he activated part of a 24 months suspended jail sentence he had been given in March.

After the hearing on last week, investigating officer Detective Constable Steve Magee said: “Shane Baxter has shown little remorse for his victims who have been badly traumatised by his crimes.

“He has a history of committing similar offences and this custodial sentence will provide some reassurance to the local community.

“Dwelling burglary is a priority crime and we will vigorously target the individuals involved in this type of offence and we aim to deprive those responsible of both their freedom and assets.”