A burglar who stole goods worth more than £20,000 to feed a drugs habit has been jailed for four and a half years at Worcester Crown Court.

Toby Dennis, the stepson of a police officer, needed to support heroin addiction costing £90 a day.

He broke into more than 40 homes in Malvern and the surrounding villages during a three-month period this year.

Some of the houses were occupied but Dennis claimed he never went upstairs during night raids, to avoid people who were asleep.

Prosecutor William Rickarby said Dennis mainly targeted handbags - leading to the loss of sentimental items - mobile phones, computers and credit cards.

Dennis, aged 26, of Cowleigh Road, Malvern, pleaded guilty to four burglaries and asked for 41 more break-ins to be taken into consideration.

He also admitted possession of heroin for his own use, two counts of driving while banned and driving uninsured.

Recorder John Price said he had brought distress to many residents. If he had been confronted by any of the victims they would have been terrified. He banned Dennis from driving for 12 months.

Mr Rickarby said during the burglary spree - from July to September - he raided homes in Malvern, Welland and Upper Welland. He was arrested within six hours of a raid in Jubilee Drive, Upper Colwall, when he netted goods worth £1,260.

The total haul was valued at £20,708 after Dennis took police on a tour of the area and pointed out homes he had burgled.

Catherine Spedding, defending, said the drug problem was the root of all his offending which included a string of crimes since 1999, including seven burglaries.

The former baker's parents split up when he was young and he took it badly when his father died.

Miss Spedding said his policeman step-father tried to support him and funded a rehabilitation course. But he too, sadly, died.

Two years ago, Dennis took a safe from a residential home for the elderly which his step-father had owned.

He made sure he did not come into contact with burglary victims, the barrister added, and if he was disturbed by noise would leave the premises.

But in custody on remand he had become drug-free and was on a course to become a painter and decorator.

"The situation has changed from that dark period in his life," said Miss Spedding. "There is evidence that he has turned over a new leaf and wiped the slate clean."