A career burglar with a resemblance to Boris Johnson has been jailed after he was caught stealing a handbag containing £1,280 in cash which he stuffed down his trousers.
Jason Watson, 43, and his spice addict accomplice Adrian Awty, 45, had amassed more than 300 convictions between them, a court heard.
Hull Crown Court heard how the pair targeted a cafe in Hull and made away with keys, bank cards and a pair of Vivienne Westwood earrings during the raid on September 28.
They also stole a staff member’s handbag which contained £1,280 in cash - which took the total value of the haul to £2,280, Hull Live reports.
Prosecutor Jazmine Lee told the court that the pair went to the House of Panini cafe, in Prospect Street in Hull, and seemed to be looking for something behind the till.
Watson pointed at something and Awty did the same. Both went into a private area and Awty ran out carrying something, the court was told.
Watson left with something hidden down his trousers. A staff member later noticed that her handbag was missing.
It contained £1,280 cash that the owners had given her to help run the premises while they were away.
Keys, bank cards and a pair of Vivienne Westwood earrings were also stolen, making the total value of the haul £2,280.
The men were later arrested and Watson tried to barricade himself into his room.
Watson had convictions for 210 previous offences, including 125 for theft or similar matters and 23 for burglary.
He had been jailed for four years on January 10 last year for burglary but was released on September 3 this year.
Awty had convictions for 96 previous offences, including 52 theft-linked matters and 21 for burglary.
He had been jailed for three years and four months in October 2019 for burglary.
The pair had amassed a total of 44 burglaries between them.
Julia Baggs, mitigating, said that Watson managed to rid himself of drugs during his most recent prison sentence.
Miss Biggs said: "He has been dependent on drugs for the vast majority of his adult life."
After his release from prison, he soon found himself on the streets.
Miss Biggs added: "He quickly, sadly, fell off the wagon and made some backwards steps.
"This offending was clearly impulsive. He wants to work when he comes out in the community."
Cathy Kioko-Gilligan, representing Awty, said the offence was opportunistic.
Miss Kioko-Gilligan said: "There is no excuse for the defendant's behaviour... He was under the influence of drugs at the time.
"He has had a long-standing history of drug addiction."
Awty was unlikely to be released from prison until May 2022.
Recorder Megan Rhys told the pair: “You both have appalling records.”
She said that unless they changed their behaviour, they would receive longer and longer prison sentences and would spend most of the rest of their lives in prison.
She added: "This offence is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be justified."
Watson and Awty were each jailed for 10 months after admitting to burglary.
After the hearing, staff at the House of Panini were told the burglars had been imprisoned but declined to comment.
