A SERIAL burglar who targeted commercial properties in Worcester "out of desperation" on his release from prison has been sent back to jail.

Alan Dale, 44, of no fixed address, stole a safe full of cash from Huntingdon Hall, in CrownGate, after being released from jail just a few weeks earlier.

The case highlighted the problem of prisoners being released with nowhere to go to and no funds, Worcester Crown Court was told.

But Judge Robert Juckes QC said small businesses in the city needed protection from "prolific burglar" Dale.

He said he would be justified in sending him to jail for five years, but had decided on a shorter sentence after hearing Dale broke into the arts venue because he was desperate.

Dale, who represented himself, admitted one charge of burglary on October 14 last year.

He also asked for a burglary at Pan Pizza in New Street to be taken into consideration.

John Brotherton, prosecuting, said a member of staff arrived at Huntingdon Hall and found it had been broken into and a safe was missing.

It was later found in a nearby garden with £1,200 in cash and £2,000 in stamps and other items still inside.

CCTV showed two men riding off on a bicycle with the safe and Dale was identified from DNA on a water bottle left at the scene.

Dale said he had been released from prison on licence from a three years sentence a few weeks before the offence and had no accommodation and could not get a bank account for any benefits so he had no money.

"I was begging the prison to find me some accommodation," he said. "I was on the doorstep of the probation service every day. I had nothing."

He had turned to burgling commercial properties "out of desperation" because he felt they were more likely to be insured than homes, he said.

He also said he was asking for help with his drugs problem as he had not been able to tackle it on his own.

A probation report prepared for the court highlighted the problems for offenders being released from prison. The report said there was always a need for accommodation but it could not always be found.

Judge Juckes said people with businesses in Worcester must be "completely fed up" with Dale's offending.

"Every time you do this, a manager must be left wondering how he will keep his business going," he told Dale. "It has to be you who organises things for yourself. You have to make those changes."

He said Dale's record had been reached the stage where he would be justified in handing down a five-year sentence.

"We have got to the point where the businesses of Worcester are entitled to a rest from you," he told Dale.

But he said he was not going to give Dale a longer sentence and jailed him for 20 months.

He also asked the probation service to be kept in touch with what happens upon his release.