A newly released prisoner has been jailed for stealing £20 from a six-year-old child’s piggy bank during a series of three Newton Abbot break-ins.

Serial burglar Steven Buchanan had only been out of jail for a few weeks and was still on licence when he targeted three homes in Newton Abbot.

He was caught as he tried to escape from the first one through a neighbour’s garden but escaped by telling the householder he would kill him if he did not let him go.

He was released on bail after being fitted with a special GPS tag which monitored his movements but went on to steal again after it failed.

Buchanan has a long record including seven previous burglary convictions and was subject to a minimum sentence under the ’three strikes and you’re out’ law.

His previous sentence of 16 months for handling stolen goods was passed in October 2015, which means he was released half way through it shortly before the first burglary in May 2016.

Buchanan, aged 28, of Coronation Road, Newton Abbot, admitted three burglaries and was jailed for two years and eight months by Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC, at Exeter Crown Court.

He told him: ’You have spent the vast majority of your adult life in prison. It is a waste of your life. These burglaries lacked some of the aggravating features but that doesn’t take away from the huge distress, misery and worry you caused to the people whose homes you entered.’

Mr Brian Fitzherbert, prosecuting, said the raids took place at houses in Courtenay Park in May 2016, Knowles Hill in June, and Manor Gardens in March 2017.

He stole computers, cameras, lenses, games consoles, jewellery, and other valuables worth a total of at least £4,700 and threatened to kill a neighbour who tried to carry out a citizen’s arrest after the first raid.

A woman returned home while he was carrying out the Manor Gardens raid and was so frightened at hearing an intruder upstairs she fled and called the police. He was linked to all three crimes by DNA or fingerprints.

Mr Fitzherbert said: ’The owner of the house was most upset by the fact Buchanan had gone into his six-year-old daughter’s room and stolen £20 from her piggy bank.’

Mr Paul Grumbar, defending, said Buchanan has a long-standing drug habit and although he was released on a prescription for a substitute drug, started to use heroin again.

He said he has spent almost all of his adult life in jail and the best chance of avoiding re-offending would be to tackle his addiction while in the community.