Young mother burgled three times in 18 months

She explained: "I live with my three-year-old boy and after being burgled that often I am scared of leaving the property in case there is another incident.

"Your own home should be a safe place to live but now I feel on edge regardless of whether I am inside or out. I am constantly worrying."

The comments came in a victim impact statement read to Wolverhampton Crown Court after 20-year-old Nathan Hayward admitted being responsible for a break-in at the woman's property in Coalpool, Walsall, on February 23.

Judge Michael Challinor told the defendant: "That is what you have done to that girl. Something precious is violated by this sort of offence.

"It is no good you saying you did not know she had been burgled before. You took your chance when you decided to break into the property."

The victim only left the address empty for 90 minutes but during that time Hayward smashed the glass in a back door to get inside and escaped with an Xbox console and 15 games.

Blood found at the scene matched his DNA and he was arrested after being spotted by police in Leamore Lane, Bloxwich, on March 29. He ran away but was found hiding in a nearby derelict property soon afterwards.

Mr Christopher O'Gorman, defending, said: "There is no evidence that he was aware of what this unfortunate woman had suffered at the hands of other burglars. This was an opportunist offence."

Hayward had earlier sold an Xbox and seven games for £230 at a Cash Converter store in Walsall - using his own account - on February 7, the morning after the property had been stolen during another burglary, this time at a house in Willenhall. The haul was later sold on.

The defendant said he knew nothing about that burglary and claimed to have been promised £50 by an unidentified friend to off load the goods. He added: "I shot myself in the foot by using my own account."

Hayward from Blakenall Lane, Walsall, pleaded guilty to handling the property stolen in the February 7 burglary and admitted committing the February 23 burglary himself. He was sent to a Young Offenders Institution for a total of 12 months.