A Hereford burglar who raided homes to pay for a heroin habit costing up to £60 a day has been jailed for five years.

Raymond Bullock, aged 32, stole jewellery and rings and took them to a pawn shop, Worcester Crown Court heard.

He also supplied pals with heroin which they took in a toilet at the Imperial Hotel, Hereford.

Police found 21 grammes of the drug in Bullock's jacket with a street value of £2,000 along with electronic scales, said Jonathan Gosling, prosecuting.

Bullock, of Beattie Avenue, Hereford, pleaded guilty to supplying heroin, two burglaries and five counts of handling stolen goods.

The defendant took possession of a number of bags full of stolen property passed to him by a man who raided a house in Belmont Court, Hereford, said Mr Gosling.

The haul included a video and wrapped Christmas presents. But police, alerted by a neighbour, found Bullock hiding nearby.

Bailed, he was arrested a month later for supplying drugs in the Imperial Hotel. A member of staff smelled heroin in the toilets and contacted police. Bullock refused to answer questions.

Mr Gosling said he made some money car dealing and spent £500 on the drug, supplying two pals with £10 deals.

Police who raided his home found a camera worth £730. It was stolen from a car and bought by Bullock for £40.

Bailed again, he then burgled a house in Mortimer Road, Hereford, taking jewellery worth £6,000.

Mr Gosling said the haul, which was cashed in at a pawn shop, was of great sentimental value to a family.

Bullock also raided a house in Home Lane, Hereford, while the occupants were on holiday.

The month-long crime spree ended on December 18 last year when the defendant was arrested again and remanded in custody.

He had a 15-year record with 43 offences of theft and burglary.

Miss Tracy Lloyd-Nesling, defending, said married Bullock fell in with the criminal fraternity at a young age.

He stopped offending in 1993 but began again after getting hooked on heroin.

"The problem got worse and worse and he ended up in the gutter," she added. "He now feels shame at what he turned into, an addict and a prolific offender."

Miss Lloyd-Nesling said tests in prison had shown Bullock was now drug-free and he intended to reform and rebuild his marriage.

Judge David McEvoy QC said he hoped Bullock had finally seen the light after a long history of dishonesty.