A burglar who stole thousands of pounds worth of property from a house in Bristol and a baby's money box in another raid during a spate of break-ins in the city was yesterday jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Keith Evans stole property belonging to three men from a house in the St George area of the city, Bristol Crown Court heard.

Just 24 hours later the 34-year-old drug addict and father-of-one, who committed his first burglary aged 14, stole a baby's Peter Rabbit money box.

Evans, who is of no fixed abode but was living in Eastville at the time, was arrested after he was linked to the burglary at the first property where his fingerprints were found at the scene.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of burglary and asked for a further three burglaries to be taken into consideration.

Richard Posner, prosecuting, said the burglaries were all committed by Evans between February 27 and March 31.

He said the first that he pleaded guilty to was in Hudd's Vale Road in St George where Evans forced open the front door and stole £2,000 worth of property from one room alone.

Just 24 hours later Evans struck again at a family home in Cecil Avenue, in St George, and stole electronic goods and jewellery as well as the money box containing £45. Catherine Spedding, defending, said her client understood he had upset his victims and wanted to change.

She said the drug addict was now fighting his addiction and had tested negative for drugs just two days before the court hearing.

She said her client's "very sad and tragic background" had led him to abuse drugs and alcohol, but did not elaborate.

Jailing Evans for two-and-a-half years, Judge Carol Hagen said: "How would you feel if a burglar entered your son's bedroom and took money saved for him?"