A BURGLAR who raided a pharmacy less than 24 hours after being given a suspended prison sentence for breaking into another business has been jailed.

Darren May, was given a five-month term for a week-long crime spree in which he targeted Swindon firms.

The 33-year-old was first caught with another inside the Carphone Warehouse in Wootton Bassett Road in the early hours of August 28.

In a statement Wiltshire Police said: “We were called at 1.50am by the alarm company who said two suspects had been seen to enter the shop.

“Officers arrived at the scene and found the front door had been smashed and could hear voices from inside, so promptly contained the building before entering and carrying out a search.Two men were found barricaded inside the stock cupboard and were arrested.”

Officers then found and seized a rucksack containing a number of sim cards and mobile phones.

May, of Portsmouth and his co-defendant Lee Sparks, 37, of Cricklade Road, Swindon, appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on August 29 and they each pleaded guilty to burglary. Both were given an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.

But at 1.15am the following day police were called to Rowlands Pharmacy, in Dunwich Drive, Toothill. When they got there they discovered the front door had been smashed and there were signs of an intruder.

May was found on a bike nearby by the same officers who had dealt with him for the earlier burglary. He was arrested and following an investigation, charged with attempted burglary at the Carphone Warehouse on August 23, burglary at the pharmacy and a theft from the Co-op in Rodbourne Road. He admitted all three and was sentenced to a total of 20 weeks.

Insp Carly Nesbitt said: “This is a fantastic result thanks to a lot of hard work by our local officers and investigators who did an exemplary job -brilliant teamwork. I have no doubt that May is a prolific offender who would have continued to offend if he was given the opportunity.

“Hopefully this sentence will send a message to him that we will not tolerate these types of crimes which target local businesses and we will be keeping a close eye on him when he is released from prison.”