A "prolific burglar" who stole charity boxes from Greggs and small businesses last week has been jailed.

It's not the first time Dean Cochrane, 43, of Kingswood Avenue, Swindon, has stolen from charity, as was on licence for the same type of offence in Chippenham in April.

He had been released early due to prison overcrowding.

The criminal pleaded guilty in Swindon Magistrates' Court on August 15 and was jailed.(Image: Newsquest)

The total amount stolen from the charity boxes in Greggs in Havelock Street, and Dotty’s Cafe and Expressions in Old Town was not revealed in court.

However, Cochrane suggested: “I can tell you [the amount]”, to which his defence solicitor, Mark Glendenning, explained: “Mr Cochrane could give you an indication because he was the one who took them - it is a matter of pounds, not hundreds of pounds”.

Cochrane was seen on CCTV in the early hours of August 9 first smashing the window of Dotty’s Cafe, on Devizes Road.(Image: Wiltshire Police)

Kate Prince, prosecuting, said: “Having looked around the premises, the only thing taken was a charity.

“The pot was last emptied six months ago and the loss is to the charity.”

He then smashed entry to Expressions a gift shop on Victoria Road, with a beer keg, and then Greggs, again taking charity tins.

READ MORE: 'Despicable' burglar who stole charity boxes in Chippenham jailed

For the Greggs he used a concrete bollard to smash the front glass door, and took around £50. Expressions valued the damage at over £240.(Image: Google Maps)

With 78 previous theft offences, Wiltshire Police described him as a “prolific burglar” after he stole charity tins from Pasty Cove and Iceland in Chippenham, for which he was jailed in May.

He was still under licence for these thefts at the time of the new offences, having been released from prison that week.

READ MORE: Greggs in Swindon among businesses targeted by burglaries

Mr Glendenning said: “He has found himself in difficulties with no cash”. He called the thefts “foolish” and “opportunistic”.

“He apologises to all who have suffered some difficulties because of his actions.”

He explained that drugs and drink have been behind many of his thefts, and “are being addressed”.

The magistrate decided: “These offences are so serious that no other sentence is possible other than custody.”

He was jailed for 12 months - four months for each theft - half to be served in custody and half on licence.

He must pay £264 compensation to Expressions, and £250 each to Greggs and Dotty’s Cafe on top of around £2,500 of outstanding fines.