A burglar who used a cat flap to enter a house before stealing valuables from inside has been locked up for three years.

A court heard that Liam Daniels dismantled the cat flap before reaching inside, grabbing some keys and opening a patio door.

The 18-year-old was sent to a young offenders' institution yesterday after a judge said he had "repeatedly ignored" offers of help to turn him away from a life of crime.

Bristol Crown Court was told Daniels was caught after police found his fingerprints at the scene of the crime.

When they arrested him he initially gave a false name but later admitted the break-in as well as a series of other offences.

William Hunter, prosecuting, said victim Alan Hunt left his home in Cumberland Grove, Montpelier, locked at 8am on the day of the break-in, in January. But when he returned home the front door was unlocked, the cat flap was dismantled and the keys had been removed from the inside of the rear patio door. A laptop and PlayStation computer game, worth about £750 in total, had been stolen and £200 damage was caused.

Some CDs and DVDs were moved but were not taken.

Mr Hunter said Daniels, of Feeder Road, admitted the burglary, saying he did it because he was in debt.

He asked for 11 offences to be considered.

The court heard Daniels was in breach of his licence for a previous set of burglaries, and had 11 court appearances for 43 offences on his record.

Julie Phillips, defending, conceded Daniels qualified for a minimum jail term of three years.

She told the court Daniels had very little structure to his childhood and an incomplete education.

She said: "He is very immature and a very inarticulate young man.

"A brash exterior hides a very vulnerable young person.

"I acknowledge there have been efforts made on his behalf, particularly by the youth offending team, to provide him with practical support in the community.

"That has been very limited in its success. He is a young man who has lacked emotional support."

Judge Mark Horton, who handed him three years in a young offenders' institution, said the teenager had placed himself firmly outside the rules of society.

He told Daniels: "You have known that every court, every probation officer, every person who has dealt with you would have told you of the anguish and pain endured by people whose homes are violated by burglaries.

"You have repeatedly ignored help and offers extended to you time and time again to try and turn you away from your life of crime.

"When you are outside the rules of society it is my task to ensure you are outside society and cannot therefore harm it any more."

Crimes such as the burglary carried out by Daniels, where cat or dog flaps are used by burglars to lean in and snatch keys from inside homes, have been the subject of previous warnings by the police.

Homeowners are advised not to leave house or car keys on a hook near a door, in the keyhole itself or anywhere within sight or reach of any opening in the house, including open windows or letterboxes.

On their website, Avon and Somerset police say: "Remember to keep vehicle and house keys out of view in your home.

"Keep keys in a locked cupboard or cabinet or, at night, take them to bed with you.

"Never leave a spare key in a convenient hiding place such as under a door mat or in a flower pot – a thief will look there first."