A BURGLAR who targeted a number of properties in Bournemouth has been jailed.

Lee Mark Stacey burgled a flat in Exeter Road in the early hours of Thursday, July 12.

The 34-year-old stole a wallet, bank card, watch and tablet. He subsequently used the bank card to buy scratch cards at a nearby petrol station.

Stacey was later identified from CCTV at the petrol station.

Between 12pm and 1pm that same day he carried out a burglary at the Mandarin Restaurant in Old Christchurch Road.

He entered a staff office at the rear of the restaurant and stole a mobile phone, bank card and bus pass from a handbag.

He then used the bank card to carry out a number of transactions including at the Co-Op in Christchurch Road.

Again, Stacey was identified through CCTV from the store and the victim also used the ‘findmyiphone’ feature, which showed the device was in the area of the defendant’s home address of Manor Road, Bournemouth.

He was arrested the following day.

He appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday, November 9, where he also admitted a further fraud charge relating to the use of two bank cards stolen from a property in Knyveton Road on Monday, August 6, and a burglary at a garage at the Cottonwood Hotel on Sunday, July 8, where a games console, games and a bag were stolen.

He was sentenced to two years and six months in prison after admitting a total of three charges of burglary and four fraud offences.

Police Constable Chris Raspini, of Dorset Police’s Priority Crime Team, said officers were “committed to protecting homeowners and businesses from repeat offenders such as Stacey”.

“Lee Stacey was responsible for a number of burglary offences in the Bournemouth area and I am glad that through our enquiries officers were able to identify him as the offender so he could be brought before the court.

“This sentence will help ensure he is unable to commit further offences for the foreseeable future,” he added.