DESPERATION for drug money has put a heroin addict behind bars, after he crept into people's homes at night on a burglary spree in Selby.

Father-of-two Mark Robert Taylor's need to fund his habit saw him invade two houses and try to break into two more.

He targeted one property only hours after he had been released on police bail following his arrest for another crime, and also sneaked into a woman's bedroom while she slept.

The 28-year-old, from Charles Street, Selby, has now been jailed for 30 months, after a judge heard he had developed a heroin addiction when a relationship broke down, and he needed to pay for his "selfish interests".

Chris Smith, prosecuting, told York Crown Court that Taylor was first spotted looking to burgle a house in Powell Street in Selby, which belonged to an 82-year-old man, on September 20 last year.

But he was thwarted when a neighbour saw him outside.

"On the same day, he went to another house in that street, where the owner heard the front door open and close and thought it was her partner," he said.

"Later, she realised the alarm on her mobile phone had not gone off because it had been stolen from the floor next to her bed. Further mobile phones had also been stolen, along with a jacket worth £80 with £150 cash in the pocket and a watch."

The stolen items were recovered that day and Taylor was arrested, but within seven hours of being bailed he tried to break into a third house in Tennant Street in the early hours of the morning, only being stopped when the owner's son confronted him.

Having been arrested again, he was also on bail when he burgled another house in Powell Street on October 16.

Mr Smith said: "The owner saw him standing in the alleyway smoking at the rear of the house.

"She went downstairs to discover he had got into the property through a rear door and had taken a handbag and some cash."

Taylor was found by police with £280, which he claimed were betting winnings. But he eventually admitted two charges of burglary and two of attempted burglary.

Geraldine Kelly, for Taylor, said: "The offences were committed while on bail, which emphasises what a desperate state he was in with his addiction, which he has had since 2005 following the breakdown of a relationship.

"He was offered heroin by a friend and it got a grip on him. He has been desperately trying to rid himself of his addiction, and his motivation is that he can resume his relationship with his two young children if he remains clean."

Sentencing Taylor to 27 months in prison for the burglaries and attempted burglaries, and three months for breaching a community order made last year, Judge Stephen Ashurst told him: "Your victims were asleep at the time - you knew it and you didn't care, because you were more concerned with your selfish interests of pursuing your heroin addiction.

"People who have their homes entered late at night suffer serious consequences long-term - it unnerves them and makes them uncomfortable being alone."