Prolific Hatfield burgler stole BMW and then broke into three more homes

Dean Sarney struck four times in one night – a spree that could have seen him jailed for eight years.

But St Albans Crown Court heard the 31-year-old, of Parkhouse Court, had vowed to change his ways and tackle his drug addiction.

The court heard that after forcing his way into the Great North Road home in WGC, he drove in the BMW to three more addresses in Harpenden.

In two cases, the occupants were upstairs while Sarney raided their home.

It happened on the night of April 18 last year, when the thief also helped himself to an Audi car.

He was later arrested in Luton, where police found him with the tools he used to break into the homes, and his trainers matched

a footprint at one of the crime scenes.

On Monday he admitted four counts of burglary, and two of stealing a car.

He asked for a further 30 burglaries to be taken into account.

The court heard that in 2009, he had also been convicted of burglary, and asked for 309 offences to be considered.

He was initially spared jail on that occasion, but was later sentenced to four-and-a-half years after breaking into a house in Hertford.

Instead of jailing Sarney on Monday, Judge Jonathan Carroll opted to admit him into a scheme called Choices and Consequences.

He will be subject to regular drug testing, and told that if he falls back into his old ways he will be sent to prison.

He has been on the programme before, but was jailed for breaching the order.

However on Monday, Judge Carroll said the birth of Sarney’s daughter meant the prolific thief was more motivated to change his ways.

He told Sarney he would receive a three-year community order under the C2 scheme, and would be under

the supervision of the probation service.

Sarney was told he would have to perform 200 hours of unpaid work and would be subject to a home curfew between 9pm and 6am for the next eight weeks.

He will also be the subject of a 24- month drug rehabilitation programme.