A burglar was jailed for a break-in minutes after a jury at Worcester Crown Court acquitted him of another raid and witness intimidation.

At the end of a trial, Simon Lander, aged 24, of Burlish Crossing, Stourport, admitted a burglary in the town's Worth Crescent and eight other thefts.

His two-and-a-half year jail term was imposed after a jury found him innocent of breaking into a flat in Windermere Court, Stourport, stealing a hi-fi system and allegedly threatening a witness three times.

Brett Stevenson, prosecuting, said Lander was on bail when he broke into the Worth Crescent address on May 10.

Damage to the door totalled £100 and £633 worth of property was stolen.

Lander was arrested on Tuesday, May 28, and claimed he only stole a video recorder, not jewellery and cash. He admitted eight thefts from garden sheds and garden centres.

His list of previous convictions included assault, shoplifting and obstructing police. He had served jail terms for burglary.

Michael Aspinall, defending, said Lander committed offences to fund a heroin habit but had since stopped taking drugs.

Lander did not give evidence during his trial for the alleged break-in at the home of David Lloyd in Windermere Court.

But he denied to police threatening to break the legs of Ashley O'Mahoney, who claimed in a witness statement he saw Lander leaving the burgled premises with a square object under his jacket.

It was revealed during the trial that Mr O'Mahoney was a former drug addict, had a police record and had served a jail sentence.