A CRACK cocaine addict has been jailed after he burgled nine homes on Canvey within three weeks to fund his £500-a-day habit.

Prolific burglar Micky Scott, of no fixed address, appeared at Southend Crown Court via video link from Chelmsford Prison on Friday and further admitted stealing a car and making off without payment.

As well as his offences on Canvey, the 25-year-old also carried out a burglary in Kettering, Northamptonshire.

The court heard the dad-of-three, whose first conviction was at age 13, committed the offences after he had been let out of prison for burglary.

Following the breakdown of a relationship with his girlfriend, and mother of one his children, he returned to class A drugs - and burgling homes.

Lynne Shirley, prosecuting, told the court that crime scene investigators found fingerprints belonging to Scott at a burglary in Ivy Walk, Canvey, which happened between 7am and 3.30pm on September 6.

She said: “Three days later, jewellery worth £685 was stolen from a burglary in Primrose Close.

“A witness saw the defendant at the scene but he subsequently made off. A blue Citroen was waiting outside the house and a driving licence belonging to Mr Scott was located inside.”

Scott stole jewellery, a laptop and a Chanel handbag, worth £2,000 in total, from a home in Meadow View Walk on September 13, before raiding a home in Dovercliff Road six days later.

Ms Shirley added: “The homeowner came home and saw a man in his living room, he was wrapping a cable around his hand. The homeowner said hello and realised a burglary was taking place.

“The defendant launched himself through an open window and threw back the lead to the laptop. He said “I’m sorry, that’s all I’ve got.”

Scott also stole a white Ford Fiesta on September 25 and did not pay for fuel on the same day.

Sachin Rajput, mitigating, said: “This offending has taken place because of his class A usage. There was no intention to cause fear or harm. He never intended to use violence to fear or scare.”

Sentencing Scott to two years and four months in prison and ordering him to pay a £170 victim surcharge, Recorder Alexander Hill-Smith said: “You caused untold distress to the homeowners. This cycle is going to continue for as long as you are unable to control your addiction.”