A burglar has been jailed for six years after being found guilty of his 99th crime.

Colin O'Brien, of Penge Road, South Norwood, was locked up for stealing two bikes, car keys, jewellery, five mobile phones, gloves and cash from a house on Christmas Eve last year.

The 48-year-old latest's crime came just months after leaving prison having served a three-year sentence for burglary.

O'Brien was jailed at Croydon Crown Court last week after his 40th conviction, covering 99 offences dating back to 1982.

He was caught after police were called to reports of him acting suspiciously in Sheringham Road, Penge, at about 2.10pm on December 24.

He had asked to borrow a passing man's phone to call a taxi and even offered to pay him £10 to drive him to South Norwood with the two bikes.

Officers who stopped O'Brien found him in possession of many other stolen items from a nearby house.

O'Brien was last jailed for burglary at Kingston Crown Court in July 2011.


TODAY'S TOP STORIES