A burglar, whose £37,000 haul included goods stolen from Herefordshire homes, has been jailed for five years at Worcester Crown Court.

Antoni Hall targeted isolated rural properties, smashing windows to gain entry when the premises were unoccupied during the day.

In just three weeks, the heroin addict completed 20 raids and took along his girlfriend, Claire Meaney, six times to act as lookout in the getaway car, said prosecutor Elizabeth Muir.

Property stolen by 28-year-old Hall included a £7,000 gold chain, computers, tools and music systems.

Meaney was said by her barrister Abigail Gold to have been dominated by Hall, who introduced her to heroin.

She became dependent on him as her supplier.

For the final raid on Thursday, February 28 this year, the couple were joined by Anthony Leake.

But police spotted the two men at the rear of a converted barn.

Leake was carrying a chainsaw and Hall had a screwdriver and was wearing gloves.

Hall, of Wilks Meadow, Coleford, Gloucestershire, admitted three burglaries and asked for 18 more to be taken into consideration.

Payment

He also admitted three counts of making off from garages without payment for petrol.

Meaney, aged 22, of Kilvert Road, Hereford, admitted six burglaries with two more taken into consideration on the basis that she always remained in the car outside the homes.

Leake, 27, of Mayberry Avenue, Hereford, admitted one burglary and asked for one charge of shoplifting to be taken into consideration.

Recorder Alan Dooley said heroin addiction was no excuse for raiding homes and causing the occupants great distress."

This was a professional activity on your part, driven by your need for drugs," he told Hall.

He accepted that Meaney had been "heavily influenced" by Hall and gave her a two-year community rehabilitation order with 70 hours unpaid community work.

The recorder jailed Leake for nine-and-a-half months.

Miss Muir said Hall operated in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Gwent, selecting high quality properties. All three defendants had police records.

Brian Mahon, for Hall, said the former tree surgeon was forced to give up his career after he suffered a serious hand injury, which became the trigger for depression, drug abuse and crime to fund the habit.

Mr Mahon said Leake also used heroin and found himself in the company of others with the same addiction.

Miss Gold said Meaney was always "a step away from the action" and had not removed any valuables from the victims' houses."

She is a naive young lady who did what she was told by Hall, whom she met at 16," she said.

"He was a sophisticated and advanced criminal and was the dominant character.

"She was weak and he was able to hold her under his spell far too easily."

Once he had hooked her on drugs, he threatened to exclude her from drug deals and she became absolutely dependent on him and complied with his demands."