A BURGLAR from Bournemouth who broke into a remote rural home and was found by the homeowner drinking beer in the kitchen has been jailed for 18 months.

A judge last week told Phillip Campbell-Morrison that he expects the defendant will go on to commit more crimes when he is released from prison on licence.

Campbell-Morrison, who is still just 24, is a prolific offender. He appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday to be sentenced for burgling a property in Chawleigh, Devon at around 8pm on September 11.

Rob Welling, prosecuting, said: "The property is a detached cottage about 50 metres away from the nearest neighbour. It's rural and isolated.

"The owner had left the back door open because she was awaiting the arrival of her husband.

"She went into the kitchen and was confronted by the sight of the defendant, who was standing in the doorway drinking beer. He looked shocked, apologised and asked the way to Barnstaple."

The defendant, who is of no fixed abode but sleeps on the streets of Bournemouth, was "drunk and slurring his words", Mr Welling said.

After he left the address, the woman realised her mobile phone was missing. She called police, and Campbell-Morrison was arrested nearby.

In May 2014, Campbell-Morrison was sentenced to 16 months in a young offender institution after he burgled a home in Corporation Road, Bournemouth. He was disturbed by the homeowner and promptly told her he was looking for a phone charger.

Mark Florida-James, mitigating, said the defendant's record makes for "quite depressing reading".

"He has a fairly long-standing problem with all sorts of illicit substances, as well as alcohol," the barrister said.

"He was clearly under the influence at the time."

"I have no doubt this was a very distressing experience for the victim," Recorder Don Tait told Campbell-Morrison.

"You are 24 and you have an appalling criminal record. I suspect that whatever I do you will continue with that when you are ultimately released."