A serial burglar who broke into a number of homes in a Shropshire town while the occupants were asleep has been jailed for 16 months.

David Mullock, 24, of St John’s Street, Bridgnorth, admitted breaking into the home of Linda Rees, of Cartway, Bridgnorth, in the early hours of the morning on November 2 and stealing £680 in cash and two iPods. He also admitted five other burglaries which took place across the town between July and September 2010.

Ms Jo Barker, prosecuting, told Shrewsbury Crown Court today, how Miss Rees had gone to bed at about 2am locking all the doors and windows.

She said: “She came downstairs at about 10.40am, after an undisturbed sleep, to find her laptop computer had been moved and the blinds and window were open.

“The front door of the property was no longer secure. She realised she had been burgled and a number of items were missing including £680 cash and a couple of iPods.”

The court heard Mullock was later arrested and police seized two iPods and a pair of trainers which matched foot prints left on the home’s kitchen floor.

While being interviewed by police, Mullock admitted five more burglaries.

Ms Barker added: “He admitted stealing cash, games and a mobile phone charger, worth £255, at an address in Morph Road, Bridgnorth, where a family with an autistic daughter, who has a habit of opening doors and windows, lived.

“At Springfield Cottage, Bridgnorth, while the occupant was upstairs, he stole a laptop, a games console, games and a camera valued at £1,180. At Sydney Cottage, Bridgnorth, as the occupants slept upstairs he stole jewellery worth £2,300.

“At Grove Crescent, Bridgnorth, he stole a camcorder, a mobile phone and a wallet, valued at £260 and finally at a hair salon where he took cash from the till and beauty treatments.”

Mullock told police he stole the items to sell on so he could buy food.

Mr Mike Sherwood-Smith, for Mullock, said he had no other income but was remorseful for what he had done. Judge Peter Barrie said: “She was in the house upstairs, it’s had a dramatic impact on her sense of wellbeing.”