VIDEO: Brazen burglar filmed raiding Black Country house is jailed

Lea Allen was filmed using a paving stone to smash a window to get into the home in Trinity Road, Amblecote. The 38-year-old was still being recorded as he left the house 10 minutes later carrying £1,700 of goods including four laptops, an iPad and mobile phones.

Allen of Conops Way, Lye, admitted carrying out the crime on July 1 of this year. He has a criminal record with 91 previous convictions, including many thefts and burglaries.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Recorder Rashid Singh told him: "You have amassed numerous convictions for burgling houses."

He said Allen had been given a four-and-a-half year jail term in 2007 for breaking into homes in the Stourbridge area and that 'had not taught him a lesson.'

Mr Singh concluded: "This latest burglary is serious. You have not assisted in one jot to help recover that property

"You used the crudest of methods to get into the property and the occupants suffered a significant financial loss."

Miss Sally Cairns, prosecuting, said Allen was quickly recognised when police officers saw the CCTV footage.

She said that officers went to arrest him and he told them he had done it to clear a £1,500 drug debt. He told the officers the debt would be quashed if he carried out the raid – a crime he maintained he did not want to commit but he had been put under pressure.

James Hall, aged 31, was the victim of Allen's raid.

He said: "I'm obviously pleased with the news and happy to know he's not going to be doing this to anyone else.

"We only ever got the iPad back, but it's not about the goods that were stolen, justice has been served and I'm happy he's off the streets.

"I have to thank the Express & Star for their coverage and help in bringing to light the burglary in the first place, as without that I'm not so sure Allen would have been caught."

Mr Simon Hanns, defending, told the court it was accepted Allen had an 'inglorious' criminal record but he said he had managed to keep out of trouble for about three years.

Mr Hanns added: "Sadly he lapsed back into his drug addiction."