A 32-YEAR-OLD heroin addict with ‘an appalling record for burglary’ has been jailed for 20 months for his part in a £12,500 break-in near Stonehouse.

Dean Weaver, of Bristol Road, Gloucester, was one of a gang who broke into an Eastington building which was being converted into flats and stole cookers, fridges and boilers.

Weaver was snared when he cut himself at Old Mill, Mill End, Eastington on Thursday, April 10 this year. He pleaded guilty to burglary.

“Bloodstains found by police matched the defendant’s DNA and he was arrested,” said prosecuting barrister Mark Collier at Gloucester Crown Court on Friday.

“This was a substantial Grade II Listed Building and expensive new equipment was being installed as it was in the process of being converted into flats.

“The defendant cannot have acted alone and must have been one of a gang and a large vehicle - possibly a Transit van - must have been used.

“None of the stolen items has been recovered.

“The defendant has 25 previous convictions for a total of 65 offences.”

Defending barrister Anna Midgley said “My client has a history of cocaine and heroin addiction but now he has matured and knows that he must change and that this cannot go on.”

Judge William Hart told Weaver “You have an appalling record for burglary and this was clearly a planned and organised commercial burglary carried out by a gang.”

Weaver was jailed for 20 months.