A PROLIFIC burglar has seen his lengthy jail sentence extended after being convicted of targetting and breaking into the home of an elderly man.

Jason Hicks pleaded guilty to the latest burglary when he appeared yesterday by videolink to Worcester Crown Court from prison, where he is already serving a three year sentence for burglary, theft and criminal damage.

Prosecuting Lal Amarasinghe explained that the burglary Hicks was in court for happened before the offences he was jailed for last June, as Hicks had originally denied the offence and officers had now investigated the crime further.

Mr Amarasinghe said Hicks spoke to Leonard Carless at the 92-year-old's home in Park Avenue, Worcester, in the early hours of March 13. A few hours later, as Mr Carless slept, his home was broken into and Hicks left blood stains on the window frame.

Mr Amarasinghe explained it had not been established if anything had been stolen, which was why Hicks was charged and pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal.

He said police later established Hicks had been in the victim’s home in the past, and so Hicks had targeted him.

Mr Amarashing then spoke on Hick’s previous offences, pointing out Hicks targeted an elderly woman in one of the offences he was jailed for.

Hicks also carried out the burglary of his next door neighbour in Redcliffe Street on April 11, just days after he targeted the 92-year-old and had been arrested.

And Hicks had previously carried out two burglaries in 2010 and 2014, the latter committed against an 88-year-old victim.

Defending Belinda Ariss said the 38-year-old had been in a car crash in 2014, when his leg was severely injured. Miss Ariss explained Hicks had been on prescription medication after this, and was a heroine addict at the time of committing the offences.

Miss Ariss added Hicks had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity asking for full credit to be given for this.

In sentencing Hicks, judge Nicholas Cartwright said: “The chronology is important.

“You committed this burglary against Mr Carless on March 13.

“You were interviewed and eight days later, on April 10, you committed theft from a dwelling and then you committed a dwelling burglary on April 11.

“You knew Mr Carless.

"You targeted Mr Carless, and perceived him as vulnerable.

“Your previous convictions are an aggravating feature."

Hicks was sentenced to an additional 14 months in jail added consecutively to the three year sentence he is currently serving.

Hicks was sentenced to an additional 14 months in jail added to the three year sentence he is currently serving.