​A prolific burglar who stole boilers from homes in Bristol has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Nathan Jones targeted empty properties in the city and removed boilers to fund his drug addiction.

The 30-year-old, who has no fixed address and has clocked up more than 50 burglaries in six years, was arrested after he was forensically linked to a break-in at an unoccupied address in Southville.

The burglar admitted the offence and confessed to police he had committed nine other similar boiler burglaries and attempted a 10th.

James Ward, prosecuting at Bristol Crown Court, said property owner, Malcolm Ashworth, was contacted by a friend to say there was a smell of gas at his empty Beauley Road house in Southville on July 8.

He said: “When Mr Ashworth went into the property to find out what was going on he went into a bedroom and found a small glazed panel had been smashed in and net curtain on the floor.

“He went into the bathroom. In an alcove he saw his combi boiler was missing.

“The pipes had been cut through just below where they entered the unit and bent back.

“The water tap in the kitchen had been switched off and the electricity had also been switched off by the defendant.

“The forensic department attended and recovered evidence that led to the defendant.”

He said Jones was arrested and interviewed on October 22 and admitted the burglary.

He told officers he targeted empty properties to steal boilers and volunteered information on other offences.

Sarah Regan, defending, said Jones had been a burglar since 2003 so that he could fund his drug habit.

She said he now wanted drug rehabilitation treatment but accepted he would be jailed.

Jailing Jones, Recorder Mr Andrew Maitland said: “I am aware of the admissions you made right from the outset.

“You deserve and get the maximum credit I can give you for your guilty plea. The fact remains that you have operated as a professional burglar, committing the same offence repeatedly.

“Since some time before October 7, 2003, your career as a burglar got underway and you have committed more than 50 dwelling house burglaries.”