A MAN broke into a sweet shop after targeting hotels and an office in a spate of burglaries.

Simon Aaron Roy Rutter, 38, and of no fixed abode, was found by police officers inside the Mr Simms Sweet Shop in Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, after reports of a man trying to break into the shop.

After the report at around 1.55am on Thursday, June 27, 2024, officers arrived on the scene and, after finding Rutter inside, arrested him.

He was charged with burglary, and then charged with three other commercial burglaries, including at the Exeter Hotel on December 12, 2023 and at The Chocolate Box Hotel on Friday, April 12, 2024.

The final burglary Rutter was charged with took place at an office building in Exeter Park Road on May 31, 2024, with him admitting to stealing and using a bank card found at the office.

Rutter was sentenced to a year in prison at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Friday, June 28 after admitting four offences of burglary and four charges of fraud.

Police Constable Lewis Gravett, of Bournemouth police, said: “We recognise the impact commercial burglaries have on businesses in the town and we will do all we can to identify those responsible.

“Thanks to our swift actions on the night of Thursday 27 June 2024 we were able to catch Simon Rutter in the act and then compile evidence to bring him to justice for a number of offences.”