A SERIAL burglar has been jailed for four years for a string of offences.

Jonathan Sterry, 24, of Clos Afon Twyi, Blackwood, was said to have committed many "distraction" burglaries, some involving elderly people after claiming he was collecting for charities.

Sterry admitted four charges of burglary and asked for 11 charges of burglary to be taken into consideration.

Prosecutor Nicola Powell said the first occurred in February at Gordon Road, Blackwood, when Sterry drove away a car parked in the drive.

Claiming he was collecting for sponsorship for the Scouts, he burgled a house in Wells Street, Cardiff, and again drove off in a car parked outside.

After that he burgled a house in Ynysddu followed by the burglary of a house in Cwmbach, Aberdare.

When arrested he said "Guilty, ain't it? I just want to get them sorted."

He was said to have previous convictions for burglary.

Jeffrey Jones defending said "He has struggled for some time with an addiction to Class A drugs and found it difficult to find employment. When caught he made a clean breast of all the matters despite little forensic evidence."

Judge John Curran told him "This is the sixth time since 1999 you have appeared for burglary."

He said he had acted heartlessly in stealing from vulnerable people by pretending to be a charity worker.