A YORK man “incapable of living in society without committing offences” has been jailed for more than three years.

Lewis Matthew Berkley, 20, who was once banned from wearing a hoodie, already had 70 previous convictions before he admitted two night-time house raids and a string of other offences at York Crown Court.

He was on a community order for shoplifting and violent behaviour in a police station and was pending a magistrates court appearance for another offence at the time.

In 2017, he became the first person in York to receive a criminal behaviour order. Among other restrictions, it banned him from wearing a hooded top.

Judge Andrew Stubbs QC told Berkley: “For whatever reason, at the moment you are incapable of living in society without committing offences.”

Berkley, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to two charges of burgling houses, eight of fraud by using bank cards he had stolen, one of theft of a purse and one of taking a car without the owner’s consent. All were committed in March.

In addition to the 40-month prison sentence, he was banned from driving for 32 months.

His barrister Ian Hudson said he broke the law to feed himself and his drug habit.

He said: “He is 20, he is homeless, he is a heroin addict. That is all."

Prosecuting, Dave MacKay said one family was asleep and the parents of another were trying to get their young child to sleep when Berkley broke into their homes in Bishopthorpe Road and Huntington Road on the same night.

At the first house, he was part of a group that stole a television, computer and two hand bags among other items and used a car parked on the drive to carry them away.

At the second, he stole a laptop and other items including a bank card.

He had also stolen wallets and items from parked cars. When he got a card, he quickly used it contactless to buy small amounts at convenience and garage shops.

The judge said the prison sentence would give Berkley a chance to kick his heroin habit and provide help on his release to go straight.