A serial burglar is back behind bars after he broke into a house within weeks of coming out of prison.

Colin McFarlane was released from prison in April after serving a sentence for burglary but within weeks was committing crime again.

The 44-year-old, from Warrior Square in St Leonards, broke into a home in St Margaret's Road in his hometown on May 5 while the residents were out at the Jack on The Green celebrations.

When they returned they found their laptop computer and Blackberry mobile phone had been stolen.

Detectives were able to link McFarlane to the break-in after finding a fingerprint at the scene and he admitted the crime when he appeared in court.

Detective Inspector Ian Williams said: "McFarlane had a history of coming out of prison and committing offences before too long to pay for drugs so it is great to have got him off the streets before he claimed more victims.

"The burglary happened on 5 May, we confirmed the fingerprint belonged to McFarlane on May 8 and by the evening of May 9 we had arrested and charged McFarlane and he was back behind bars.

"It shows how quickly burglars can expect to be caught in Sussex."

McFarlane was remanded in custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court on June 2 for sentencing.

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