A man caught with the proceeds of a string of burglaries around town has been jailed for 21 months.

Lukwan Spencer was found with the Aladdin’s cave of stolen goods when police raided his home following an anonymous tip off.

And they charged the 31-year-old with seven counts of house burglary, which he denied, insisting he had not carried out the raids – instead he admitted handling stolen goods.

But he still landed behind bars as a judge told him “burglars need handlers to dispose of their property”.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how the break-ins occurred in the spring and early summer of last year.

The first raid was of an empty house in Blunsdon on Monday, March 2 when the occupants were out at a funeral in the afternoon.

During the following month two more houses in Broad Bush, Blunsdon, were broken into while the residents slept upstairs.

In June properties in Stanton Fitzwarren, Upper Stratton and Hyde Road in Old Town were also broken into while the occupants were in bed.

Among the items taken in the third of those was a crossbow and bolts and Mr Meeke said a tip off to police about Spencer having the stolen weapon led to him being arrested.

The final burglary took place in July in Chiseldon when jewellery, cash and a safe were taken along with the cremated remains of a pet dog.

Mr Meeke said when Spencer’s property was searched at the end of July he was found to have a number of items stolen from the seven burglaries.

Spencer, of St Mary’s Grove, Gorse Hill, pleaded not guilty to seven counts of burglary but admitted six alternative charges of handling stolen goods.

Andrew Hobson, defending, said his client had a poor record including offences of burglary and handling in the past. He said his client was not the burglar who stole the items.

While he would have kept some of the property, he accepted he would have sold on other items to raise cash, he said.

Jailing him, Judge Carol Hagen said: “Five out of the six burglaries were night-time burglaries when the occupants were in bed. One can imagine their distress.

“I deal with you not as a burglar but burglars need handlers to dispose of their property. You understand it is to be viewed seriously.”