A DRUG addict who stole thousands of pounds worth of jewellery from a home has started a two-and-a-half-year jail sentence. Persistent offender Percy Biddle, of Wisbech, admitted two charges of burglary at Norwich Crown Court, as well as asking the bench

A DRUG addict who stole thousands of pounds worth of jewellery from a home has started a two-and-a-half-year jail sentence.

Persistent offender Percy Biddle, of Wisbech, admitted two charges of burglary at Norwich Crown Court, as well as asking the bench to take a third offence into consideration.

The court heard from prosecutor Nick Methold on Saturday how Biddle, 38, of Lake Court, broke into a home in St Ives in July and stole "several thousands of pounds" worth of jewellery, as well as causing �500 worth of damage.

Items he made off with included a gold chain and three sentimental and valuable engagement rings, belonging to the victim, her mother and her mother-in-law.

He also admitted breaking into a Wisbech home on July 10 and stealing a video camera and loose change, and asked for a burglary of a Luton home on June 3 to be taken into consideration.

These are the latest in a long line of 36 previous convictions, which have already seen Biddle spend more than four years behind bars.

In mitigation Katharine Moore told the court Biddle had had a "very unhappy" childhood where he was bullied by his parents.