SERIAL burglar Robert Shepherd has been jailed for two years and seven months after a "mean" raid in which he targeted a man who lived in a nearby room to him.
Shepherd, 31, formerly of Sherwood Road, Grimsby, admitted burglary on January 21 and theft on February 12.
Nick Adlington, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Shepherd was, at the time, the tenant of a room in a shared house.
He entered the room of Adam Rennie, who had a room nearby at the house in Rutland Street, Grimsby, and stole a guitar, amplifier and a bus pass.
Shepherd tried to sell the items at a second-hand shop, but was later arrested.
The burglary was Shepherd's "third-strike" domestic break-in offence after previous convictions, including in 2000 and 2004.
He also stole fragrances, food and wash powder, valued at £206.89, in a "trolley run" theft from Tesco. He ran off, but was detained.
Craig Lowe, mitigating, said the burglary was unsophisticated and Shepherd was seen on CCTV pictures not long after the burglary. The stolen items were recovered.
Shepherd had suffered an on-off addiction to heroin.
"He has done all he can to come off heroin," said Mr Lowe.
Shepherd lost his job through no fault of his own and, while in custody, had done everything he could to get clean of the drug and remain free of it.
He wanted to "sort his head out", remain drug-free and get a job.
"He knows his offending has brought shame on his family and he is working hard to reconcile with them in due course," said Mr Lowe.
Recorder Jonathan Bennett condemned the burglary as "particularly mean" because Shepherd knew the victim and had shared a house with him.
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