A thief who helped himself to a laptop computer after levering open a window has been jailed for nine months.

Michael Churchley, who had previous convictions for thefts and break-ins, snatched the computer from a ground-floor flat in Cotham Side, Cotham, when the resident was out, Bristol Crown Court heard on Wednesday.

Churchley, 32, of Philip Street, Bedminster, pleaded guilty to burglary.

The Recorder of Bristol Judge Tom Crowther, who accepted the offence was at the lower end of the scale, gave Churchley credit for his ready admissions when caught, as well as his early guilty plea.

As he was sent down Churchley grinned and said: "Thank you your honour; that's all right."

Paul Connell, prosecuting, said the flat's resident, Sam Helyar, was away from home at the time and returned to find the £650 computer had been stolen.

"Entry to the flat was gained by a sash window," he said. "The window was jemmied and popped open, just enough for the defendant to reach in and steal the laptop from a table adjacent to the window.

"Nothing else was taken. The laptop has never been recovered, the damage was very minimal and repairs were carried out by the letting agent."

Police found Churchley's fingerprints on the sash window, the court was told. He didn't disclose what happened to the computer.

Mr Connell said: "It would appear he stole the laptop because of drug addiction."

The court heard Churchley had been making efforts to address his drug taking and would work with drug agencies if given the chance.