A BURGLAR who struck more than 40 times in eight months was beginning a five-year jail sentence last night.

Michael Carey, 45, targeted the homes of the wealthy in Darlington, committing his thefts while the occupants were asleep.

He was trapped when he left footprints at the home of one of his victims, which police were able to match to him.

Carey, of Borden Moor Road, Darlington, admitted three offences of burglary when he appeared before Teesside Crown Court. He also asked for 41 more, committed between October 2003 and May 2004, to be considered.

Police said Carey's arrest had boosted their clear-up rate and admitted that he could be responsible for many more burglaries.

Aisha Wadoodi, prosecuting, said that in one of Carey's burglaries, at an address in Linden Avenue, Darlington, he stole more than £1,000-worth of china.

He entered the property through a ground floor window while the 69-year-old female occupant slept.

Other raids netted expensive jewellery, watches and electrical equipment, with the total value of the items stolen running into thousands of pounds.

The court heard Carey had a string of convictions for burglary dating back to the 1970s.

Rod Hunt, mitigating, said: "He is an intelligent man with a degree of insight and the only thing that may well slow him down is his age.

"One senses a relief that he has been caught and a relief of unburdening himself of his guilt."

Jailing Carey for five years, Judge Peter Armstrong said he had a terrible record of offences and the public had to be protected from him.

After the hearing, Detective Inspector Paul Harker, of Darlington CID, praised officers for their work in capturing Carey, who he described as an old-style burglar.

He said that although no violence had been used in the crimes, a disturbing aspect was that Carey favoured breaking into homes at night while the often elderly occupants were asleep.

Det Insp Harker said: "He has been responsible for a large number of burglaries and it is fair to say that he has probably done a lot more than he has actually admitted."