A PROLIFIC offender has been locked up for a supermarket burglary committed only 12 days after he was given a suspended jail sentence.

Ben Smith, 27, who has more than 40 offences on his record, was given an eight-week suspended sentence for common assault at the beginning of September, but less than a fortnight later he was involved in an overnight burglary at the Aldi store in Idlecroft Road, Bradford.

Bradford Crown Court heard today that Smith, who had an accomplice, was linked to the crime after blood found inside a smashed display cabinet matched his DNA.

Prosecutor Georgina Goring said alcohol, smartphones and other electrical accessories valued at nearly £2,000 were stolen by the intruders and the damage bill was said to be about £2,500.

Smith, of New Street, Idle, was arrested last month and pleaded guilty to the burglary charge when he appeared before the magistrates’ court.

He also admitted being in breach of a restraining order by being at his girlfriend’s home.

Miss Goring said Smith had 26 previous convictions for 43 offences and he had been jailed for 42 months in 2010 for an offence of robbery.

Solicitor advocate Victoria Molloy, for Smith, said he had described the latest offence as “an act stupidity”.

She indicated that he was affected by drink at the time and he had not benefited from the stolen property himself.

Judge David Hatton QC told Smith via a video link to HMP Leeds that the burglary of the supermarket was aggravated by his previous convictions and the fact that it was committed only 12 days after the imposition of the suspended sentence.

“It was an offence which resulted in very considerable damage to the property and high value items were stolen,” said Judge Hatton.

Smith was sentenced to 26 weeks in custody for the burglary with an additional 10 weeks for breaching the restraining order and a further eight weeks for the breach of the suspended sentence.

The judge said all the sentences would have to run consecutively making a total of 44 weeks’ imprisonment.