A burglar who attempted to rob a shop armed with a machete and stole from charity shops has been jailed.

Adam Pollitt, 32, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to a total of four years and 11 months in prison at Croydon Crown Court on Tuesday, 6 December.

Pollitt had pleaded guilty to the offences at the start of his trial.

The court heard how on Monday, July 4 Pollitt went into a convenience shop in Lower Addiscombe Road and brandished a machete.

He demanded that the shopkeeper open the till and hand him the money. The shopkeeper set off the shop's alarm and Pollitt ran off empty handed.

Pollitt also pleaded guilty to a series of burglaries in charity shops and local businesses in the Lower Addiscombe Road area.

Most of these offences were committed by Pollitt smashing his way through the front door.

The offences occurred between June 28 and June 30 and, in all, he pleaded guilty to six non-residential burglaries and one attempted non-residential burglary.

He also pleaded guilty to being in possession of a bladed and pointed article in a public place.

Pollitt was jailed for four years and 11 months for the attempted robbery offence.

For the other offences he was sentenced to a total of four years and six months in prison to run concurrently with the above sentence.

Pollitt was linked to the crimes by forensics and CCTV and was arrested on Wednesday, July 6 at 3.25am in Lower Addiscombe Road.

He was charged on Friday, July 8 and kept in custody ahead of his trial.