A SERIAL burglar is facing jail after he admitted breaking into three homes in Dawlish or Teignmouth during a holiday in Devon.

Ian Nash, aged 52, of Glendawr Crescent, Kinmel Bay, North Wales, pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary when he appeared at Exeter Crown Court.

He burgled homes at Underwood Close, and Summerland Avenue, Dawlish, and Boyds Drive, Teignmouth, between September 19 and 23, 2020.

He stole jewellery in the first and to have left a face mask with his DNA on it at one of the others.

He also admitted a burglary in North Wales which will be sentenced for at Exeter after a probation report has been prepared.

Nash came to Devon after finishing a sentence from Mold Crown Court in Wales for a burglary in Clwyd Avenue, Prestatyn, on December 1, 2018, in which he stole £1,000 worth of jewellery.

He has 69 previous convictions including seven for domestic burglaries which means he is subject to the mandatory three year sentence under the ‘three strikes and you’re out’ rule.

Mr Greg Richardson, defending, said Nash’s partner suffers from a personality disorder and possible schizophrenia. Nash has been working as a machine operator for an engineering firm and there is a reference from his employer.

There is also a letter from a drug recovery team who have been working with Nash to address the underlying reasons for his offending. Judge Paul Cook remanded Nash in custody and said: ‘I will adjourn this case for a report but he needs to understand that it will go to the length of sentence rather than the manner of disposal.’