A thief with a record going back 30 years broke into a Hamilton couple's home while they were on honeymoon.
Seven days earlier James Welch had stolen jewellery from another house in the town.
Welch, 47, was jailed for two years at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday when he admitted charges of theft and housebreaking.
Mairi-Clare McMillan, prosecuting, said he stole rings worth around £600 from a house in Clydesdale Street on June 29 this year.
Bizarrely, he was spotted the previous day being bitten by the occupant's dog after putting his hand through the front gate.
The female occupant was in her garden the next afternoon when she heard her dog barking.
Accompanied by a male relative, she went inside to investigate and found Welch coming out of a bedroom.
Ms McMillan told the court: "She was shocked and asked the accused what he was doing in her home.
"He said he hadn't stolen anything and left, but she discovered her jewellery box was open and 12 rings were missing.
"The woman contacted the police who found that Welch had pawned five rings for £250 at a shop in Hamilton."
Welch then targeted a house in Saffronhall Crescent on July 6.
Ms McMillan said: "The occupants had gone on honeymoon the previous day.
"Around 10am a neighbour saw a man climb through a window of the house and contacted the police.
"Officers attended and noticed the kitchen window had been broken.
"They saw the accused walking into different rooms and shouted that he was surrounded.
"He ignored them but was detained as he tried to leave via the broken window."
Welch also admitted illegal possession of a Stanley knife on that occasion.
The court heard that he stole £600 the couple had received as a wedding gift. Despite his arrest, this was not recovered.
He was carrying a pair of wedding day cufflinks stolen from the house.
Welch's lawyer said he accepted "full responsibility" for the crimes and wished to apologise to the victims.
He had arranged to plead guilty at the earliest opportunity.
Sheriff John Speir told Welch: "You have an appalling record for crimes of this nature, stretching back some 30 years.
"Clearly you are a considerable danger to the public who wish to enjoy the safety and security of their own home.
"A victim impact statement from the honeymoon couple shows your behaviour caused a great deal of trauma and upset, leaving them with feelings of insecurity."
The two-year sentence was backdated to July 7 as Welch has been in custody since his arrest.