A burglar who broke into a string of homes and stole property worth more than £30,000 to feed his heroin habit has been jailed for nearly three years.

John Healey, 19, broke into addresses in Brighton to finance his £80-a-day drug addiction.

Healey, of Ghyllside, Brighton, committed the crimes shortly after his release from custody.

Early in January he broke into a house in Baden Road rented out by the University of Sussex to three Spanish students.

Richard Cherrill, prosecuting, told Lewes Crown Court: "While they were out this defendant gained entry to the premises by smashing a kitchen window at the back of the house.

"Once in, he had stolen a lap-top computer, cheque books and wine worth in total just over £1,000."

Healey's fingerprints were found on the inside of the window at the address and later that month he burgled another Brighton property.

Mr Cherrill said: "The homeowner had left her son at the premises asleep.

"During the afternoon he was woken by a man who turned out to be the defendant.

"The son had chased after the defendant but did not catch up with him.

"A jewellery box and jewellery worth £1,300 had been taken."

Blood found at the scene was subsequently found to match the defendant's DNA.

Healey later broke into a house in Downland Close, Brighton, by smashing a window.

Mr Cherrill said: "A 68-year-old woman had left the house and when she returned she was confronted by two men.

"One was carrying a video and he dropped it, causing it to break, and the two men ran into a car and drove away."

Healey admitted the three burglaries and asked for 26 other offences to be taken into consideration.

The court heard Healey had been sentenced to 14 months at a young offenders' institute last July for offences of burglary and attempted burglary and had been released in November.

Jeremy Wainwright, defending, said Healey had stolen to feed his heroin addiction.

He said: "Quite clearly that is the cause of these offences and if he doesn't address that he will carry on. He is now soon to be a father and hopes to adopt some measure of responsibility for his child."

Judge Guy Anthony ordered Healey to serve the 161 days of the unexpired period of his previous sentence.

He also sentenced him to 27 months in a young offenders' institute for each of the three burglaries, to run concurrently with each other but consecutive to the 161 days.