A BURGLAR who targetted businesses across Gwent was jailed after police tracked him down on internet trading site eBay.

Craig Hall was sentenced to three years in prison at Cardiff Crown Court for a string of break-ins, including the burglary at Blaenavon's Spar store.

The court heard how on May 19, 2006 Hall burgled the shop with former Newport rugby player Dale Burn, who has already been sentenced to a community punishment order for the offence.

The pair threw a boulder through a glass panel in the door, forced the roller shutter and stole £2,233.66 of cigarettes, causing £300 damage.

Hall was eventually brought to justice after using eBay to sell on thousands of pounds worth of goods, including footwear, chairs, toasters and kettles.

Police used forensic evidence, and also evidence gained from tracking his sales on eBay to bring him to justice.

Hall, 35, of The Endings, Fairwater, Cwmbran, pleaded guilty to two offences of burglary and three thefts.

These included break-ins from the Spar store and Alan Jones Transport, Newport; thefts from TWT transport, Severnside Continental and Brantano, Cwmbran.

He was sentenced to three-years for the burglaries and two-years for the thefts to run concurrently.

Hall admitted stealing more than £13,000 worth of goods and causing more than £3,000 damage in the process.

The court heard he had previous convictions for similar offences and was jailed for three years in 2000 with two others for breaking into numerous Spar shops across Gwent and stealing thousands of pounds of cigarettes.

Sentencing, Judge John Curran described Hall as a "great disruption" to Gwent businesses and said companies had suffered increased insurance premiums with some even having to close.

Detective Sergeant Gary Jones of Gwent Police said as well as committing these crimes, Hall had also pulled local youngsters into crime.

He said: "I hope his apprentices will take note and not go down the same path.

"Mr Hall is 35 years of age and it is about time he matured and contributed to the community."

He also said these crimes sent an important message to commercial businesses to be security conscious, as they are a potential target for criminals.