A serial burglar has been locked up for four years after he broke into a home in Annesley.
By doing so Simon Ramsden notched up another burglary on his record - making him a "third strike burglar" for the fifth time, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
Under the law any adult burglar convicted of their third domestic break-in should serve at least three years in prison unless the court considers there to be exceptional circumstances.
Ramsden burgled a two-bedroom bungalow in School Hill whilst the retired owner and his wife were out.
Two windows were smashed in two different doors and a jewellery box tipped out inside the home.
The victims did not think anything had been stolen after discovering the burglary on January 23.
But it was Ramsden who confessed to stealing a chain from the address during his police interview after his arrest.
His blood had also been found at the house.
Judge Nigel Godsmark QC, who sentenced him, said he was a "third strike burglar" for effectively the fifth time.
Ramsden, 43, of no fixed address, has 27 convictions on his record for 69 offences, said prosecutor Dawn Pritchard.
He had been riding a scooter around and burgled the house, stole the chain and sold it.
"He was on his own and he was ashamed," she told the court.
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His last house burglary was in 2015.
Jennifer Wells, mitigating, said he pleaded guilty to burglary.
"In interview he said he was ashamed of his behaviour, that he regretted it and that he is sorry for what he'd done," she said.
The burglary was "entirely opportunistic and not planned. He's disappointed in himself, because he'd been doing well".
He was released last January from prison and had no address. He moved around to different places. His mental health deteriorated and he was sectioned for five weeks last July.
He is now working with a mental health team in custody, but there has been no formal diagnosis, said Miss Wells. He receives medication due to anxiety and depression.
At the time of the offence, Ramsden was taking controlled drugs. Since being remanded in custody, he has been addressing that and taking prescribed medication and has withdrawn from methadone.
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