A prolific offender with a long history of drug-fuelled crime has been sentenced to more than three months in jail for burgling a garden shed.

Heroin addict Darren Carter-Moore, pictured left, aged 24, told police he had stumbled across a haul of stolen goods including a mountain bike in a park – but changed his plea when he faced city magistrates from jail.

Carter-Moore, with past convictions including burglary, theft and dangerous driving, admitted burglary of a shed in Devonport on January 21. He took a mountain bike, a power washer and two tool boxes worth £1,100.

Magistrates sentenced Carter-Moore, from King Street, Stonehouse, to 13 weeks in jail.

Angela Furniss, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said a neighbour saw a man climbing over a garden wall in Tamar Wharf at about 6.45am.

She said the intruder pulled a mountain bike over the wall and rode it away to a small park nearby.

Mrs Furniss added the witness watched as Carter-Moore returned about four times, each time taking items from the garden.

The court heard that police found him in the park, surrounded by the stolen items. They were identified by the owner as coming from his garden shed.

Mrs Furniss said Carter-Moore told police he had been walking home when he found the items in the park.

Stephen Walker, for Carter-Moore, said once he had settled down and stabilised in prison he had decided to admit the offences.

He added: "He has had a heroin addiction for a very long period of time and lived a very chaotic life, particularly when he was younger."

Mr Walker said he was now taking Subutex, a 'blocker' which meant he was unable to take heroin in prison.

He added that Carter-Moore would continue to use the drug to stop him taking heroin once he was released.

Mr Walker said: "He has spent most of his adult life in prison and he realises he is in danger of becoming institutionalised. Life is easy for him in prison, the challenge is to deal with life in the community."