AN Olympic hopeful has been jailed for four years following a two year crime spree targeting student digs in Bournemouth.

Paul Oluyemi, 26, pleaded guilty to seven counts of burglary and 11 counts of handling stolen goods at Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday.

The offences, which occurred between August 2013 and October 2015, took place in the Charminster and Winton areas of Bournemouth.

A magistrates’ court document said Oluyemi, who was a reserve for Team GB in athletics, was remanded in custody in October last year because he was “addicted to burglary”.

On Wednesday the court heard how Oluyemi, who studied in Bournemouth, had “intentionally targeted” student accommodation in order to get his hands on high value items such as laptops, cameras, mobile phones and iPads as well as expensive jewellery, make-up and handbags.

Richard Tutt, prosecuting, said the total value of the items stolen was around £35,000 - with just over £3,000 worth recovered by police.

He told the court that the thefts took place between 10pm and 2am on Friday and Saturday nights - when the defendant knew students would be out of the premises.

And on a number of occasions there were occupants inside the premises sleeping while the burglaries were taking place.

Mr Tutt told the court that a number of the victims had also lost important university work including portfolio photos and dissertations.

The court heard how Dorset Police worked with the father of one of the victim’s after he spotted his son’s laptop for sale on eBay.

Mr Tutt said: “Oluyemi was arrested at his place of work in Ringwood and was found with a number of stolen items on his person and in his white Audi car.”

Simon Walters, defending, said Oluyemi was “keen to express his remorse” and was very sorry for what he had done.

“Athletics formed a huge part of his life but when he suffered an injury a few years ago he went down a different path and got involved with drugs,” added Mr Walters.

When handing down his sentence Mr Recorder Marcus Tregilgas-Davey said: “You are a man who has represented your country in athletics, who has gained a degree and who had a good job as an architect.

“But as a result of your actions you have so badly let yourself down, your family and friends down and your son down.

“I have no doubt that you deliberately targeted student premises.

“These were just young people trying to better themselves in life by going to university and getting a degree just like you had done.

“How dare you take those items and in doing so jeopardise their future.”

Mr Tregilgas-Davey said he also had to take into account the psychological trauma of the offences with some victims claiming they “no longer felt safe in their own homes”.