AN incompetent burglar has been given a chance by a judge.

Stephen Cooper avoided jail after admitting five burglaries and one attempted burglary.

Taunton Crown Court heard that that reformed drug user Cooper, 50, of Outer Circle, Taunton, had not committed any offences for 11 years until the summer.

He pleaded guilty to breaking into two homes in the town and stealing electrical items, jewellery and a push bike; burgling a solicitors' office at Blackrbook; and attempting to burglar a store in Heron Gate.

He was tracked down by blood he left at the scene, CCTV images and a witness who gave a description of him to police.

Cooper, who had committed 66 previous offences, mostly in the early 1980s, also admitted two other burglaries that were taken into consideration by the judge.

He was given a 12-month community order with rehabilitation activity and drug rehabilitation requirements and ordered to pay a £150 criminal courts charge by Judge David Ticehurst.

The judge said: "Although you have an appalling record and although you have committed burglary on numerous occasions, it's clear that for a period of 11 years you kept out of trouble."

He said Cooper had fallen back into his "old ways" of committing offences due to drug taking.

"I'm giving you a chance," added Judge Ticehurst.

"Turn your life round, get back on track.

"Don't get back to your old ways. You're not a very good burglar anyway because you get caught."