A DORSET man has been jailed for more than three years for multiple burglaries across the county.

Luke Spencer, 35, from Corfe Mullen pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary across Dorset and Somerset.

He was sentenced to three years and one month at Taunton Crown Court.

Spencer also admitted one count each of going equipped to steal, assault causing actual bodily harm and driving without insurance.

Spencer and another woman used a hammer to force their way into the Spar convenience store in Orchard Way in Mosterton and stole multiple items.

The incident occurred on April 27 at around 4am.

The other offences took place in January and April this year in  Sturminster Marshall as well as Bridgwater, Curry Rivel, Taunton and Wellington in Somerset.

Investigating officer PC Brennan Brown said: “Luke Spencer is a prolific criminal who repeatedly broke into commercial addresses to steal tobacco products for his own gain.

“Spencer had no choice but to plead guilty due to the evidence we gathered, and I hope his pleas along with the sentence he has subsequently received, provide some reassurance to the businesses he targeted and the wider community how seriously both the police and the courts take this kind of offending.”

Emma Hendy, 47 from Bridgewater also pleaded guilty to one count of burglary in relation to an incident in Wellington, Somerset.

Hendy also admitted a charge of permitting the use of a motor vehicle without insurance and is due to be sentenced for the offences at Taunton Crown Court on September 4.