A BURGLAR who targeted homes in Acomb has been jailed for more than a year.

Shaun Neil Stephen Holding was spotted acting suspiciously by a resident of Hamilton Drive, at 6.30am on May 29, said Liam O'Brien, prosecuting at York Crown Court.

The resident told Holding he would call the police and told him to leave. But shortly afterwards, Holding started trying doors further down the road before coming to the resident's own house and opening his front door.

The resident told him to clear off and rang 999, but as he fled Holding tried further house front doors. Police arrested him nearby.

Holding, 30, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary and was jailed for 17 months. He has 41 previous convictions including two for house burglary and was on licence from a prison sentence at the time.

His barrister Emma Bennett said he felt he wasn't being offered any help in tackling his drink problem and lack of accommodation and had only got prison sentences for his crimes. He had been to the York probation office the day before the attempted burglary but not got the help he wanted.

Recorder David Bradshaw said Holding's record showed the courts had given him a "high proportion" of community orders and suspended orders.

Both orders often include rehabilitation elements and can include courses to tackle alcohol abuse.

Mr O'Brien told the court the resident was getting ready to go to work when he heard a noise outside, saw Holding trying some of his neighbours' house and car doors and went out to speak to him.

The burglar told him he was looking for someone, Holding told him he would alert police and called the non-emergency police number 101.

When Holding resumed his door attempts on the other side of the street shortly afterwards, the resident was back inside his own house.

Holding claimed to police he was drunk, having had a litre of vodka the night before and didn't know what he was doing, but in court accepted that he had been out burgling and knew what he was doing.