BURGLAR Lee Capel has been remanded in custody after admitting committing a string of offences across Wiltshire to fund his heroin habit.

The 29-year-old admitted breaking into two houses and three charges of handling goods stolen in burglaries.

Now he faces the prospect of a lengthy jail term after a string of offending during a six-week period last year.

The first raid took place on Friday, October 15, last year when he broke into a house in Ogbourne Maisey and stole a camera.

Almost a month later he broke into a house in Ramsbury on Friday, November 12, but left empty-handed.

A house on Goddard Avenue, Old Town, Swindon was broken into on the Saturday or Sunday and an electronic personal organiser, two lighters, cash, a GPS navigation device and wedding ring were stolen.

Although Capel was charged with carrying out the burglary he pleaded not guilty to that offence but admitted handling the stolen goods.

He also admitting handling items stolen from houses on Marlborough Road and Leamington Grove on November 16.

Capel, of Rabley Wood View, Marlborough, pleaded guilty to two burglaries, three counts of handling and asked for three further matters to be taken into consideration.

Paul Orton, defending, said that the offences were all committed while his client was in the grip of heroin addiction.

He said that after spending a period behind bars while on remand his client was now clean of drugs and keen to stay off them.

"He is actually very, very bright and has worked very well while in prison," Mr Orton told a judge at Swindon crown court.

He asked for the court to consider having him assessed for a drug treatment and testing order.

But Judge Charles Wade said that decision should be made after the pre-sentence report had been prepared by the probation service.

The case was adjourned for three weeks and Capel was remanded in custody.

Jamie Hill