His is the look of despair that says it all for burglar Jason Charles.

Not only is he stood at a cashpoint machine trying to use a cash card he's just stolen – but getting nowhere because he hasn't got the PIN number – he has just looked up and clocked a camera that's captured both his face and van.

Charles, 36, of Stoneyfield, Easton-in-Gordano, Pill, initially denied wrongdoing but pleaded guilty to two house break-ins in Bristol in October and November last year.

Bristol Crown Court heard he had previous convictions for 16 raids on dwellings, prompted by drug taking.

Jailing him for four years, the recorder of Bristol judge Tom Crowther QC told him: "For you this amounts to an old enemy; for your victims it is serious crime, an intrusion into their homes and a significant loss both financially and sentimental.

"It's quite plain that you are an unusual criminal, having good qualities which have resulted in good employment at times."

Philip Warren, prosecuting, said Charles walked into a home in Abbots Road, Hanham Green, while the occupants were working in the garden, and helped himself to £1,630 worth of property, including a purse, credit cards, £40 cash and £80 worth of vouchers.

Mr Warren said Charles also took a wedding ring worth £400 which had belonged to the householder's mother, which had great sentimental value.

He told the court: "Using a stolen card he attempted to obtain cash from a cash machine in Keynsham at 3.15pm.

"Good quality CCTV was obtained, but nothing was obtained by him."

The court heard that a few weeks later Charles struck again at a home in Court Farm Road, Longwell Green, again when the residents were outside the property.

In that raid he went in and walked upstairs, snatching £2,900 worth of jewellery and a wallet before exiting via a patio door.

Once again, jewellery taken was of high sentimental value to the losers, Mr Warren said, representing irreplaceable memories.

Mr Warren said police, armed with both footwear prints at the crime scene and the CCTV footage, arrested Charles promptly.

He made no comment when interviewed.

Ramin Pakrooh, defending, told the court: "He was doing well on an order and was having very successful reviews month after month.

"He is starkly different when he is not on drugs. When he's not on them he is a genuine grafter and a devoted family man, but he is not able to resist a back-sliding pattern.

"He worked in a scaffolding job but lost that job in June last year, became despondent, started drinking and whilst drunk he made the mistake of taking drugs again."