A KIDDERMINSTER man who terrified householders in the town and in the Black Country in a series of raids has been locked up for 45 months at Worcester Crown Court.

Unemployed building worker Kenneth Wyatt pleaded guilty to 21 burglaries, 10 attempted burglaries, one going equipped for theft, 10 handling stolen property and two charges of possession of heroin.

Recorder Denis Desmond said one of his victims, David Wankling of Cobden Street, Kidderminster, was disturbed in the early hours. There was a struggle and Mr Wankling was bruised before 37-year-old Wyatt escaped to his flat in nearby Bewdley Road.

Prosecutor Nigel Stelling said another house in the same street was also broken into by Wyatt with the result that the female occupant had been scared to go home.

Mr Stelling said a £2,000 lap-top was stolen in a burglary at a house in Willowfield Drive, Kidderminster. Wyatt was arrested and a drill and tool bag was fund at his flat. He made a "no comment" interview and was given bail.

Police mounted special patrols after an out-break of burglaries in Halesowen in December last year and officers spotted a hooded figure in the early hours. They gave chase in alleyways off Ridgefield Road but the suspect escaped.

In the next month there were several burglaries in Olive Hill Road and others in Rowley Regis and Oldbury. Wyatt was bailed again but continued to commit offences, even when wearing a security tag.

Mr Stelling said many of the victims were elderly and in most cases entry was made by removing a pane of glass in a rear window. There were children in some homes and on one occasion Wyatt took cash which was to be used to meet wedding expenses.

After initial denials, Wyatt eventually decided to wipe the slate clean and took detectives on a drive-round of all the premises he had attacked.

Peter Fortune, mitigating, said Wyatt had been upset by the death of two members of his family. He had also lost his job on a building site because he had been using drugs. But he had shown remorse and pointed the police in the right direction to the scenes of his crime.

Recorder Desmond said he had reduced the sentence because of the guilty pleas and the help to the police.