A CAREER criminal who has racked up nearly 100 offences is back behind bars for carrying out two burglaries.

Daniel Hawkes, 30, from Pontypool, was jailed after he admitted the raids at a cottage and a farm.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how he stole the keys to a Volkswagen Golf car and a wallet in one break-in and bicycles in the other.

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The burglaries took place in Risca and Pontypool between May and June 2019.

Hawkes was jailed for two years by Judge Daniel Williams.

Outside the court, a Gwent Police spokesperson said: “This sentence reflects the severity of the offence and shows that burglaries and those who commit these types of offences will be dealt with.

“Tackling burglary is one of Gwent Police’s force priority that we will continue to target, ensuring communities of Gwent are as safe as possible from criminals.”

The defendant, whose address is now Parc Prison, Bridgend, has an array of previous convictions recorded against him.

They include driving and drugs offences, theft, burglary, public disorder and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Last year Hawkes was jailed for 18 months after he took off in a car belonging to a care services company in Pontypool.

The defendant made off without paying £15 after filling up a Volkswagen Golf at the pumps of a Shell garage on Cwmbran’s Henllys Way in June 2019.

When staff viewed the CCTV before contacting the police, they recognised him.

He also, as a consequence, was caught committing the offences of driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance.

Two days later Hawkes took a Toyota Aygo without the owners’ consent.

The car belonged to Q Care in Pontypool and was fitted with a tracking device.

This was significant because it linked Hawkes to a commercial burglary he carried out on June 30 at Sedbury Trading Estate in Gloucestershire.

Again the defendant was caught on camera, this time prising open a storage container with a crowbar to steal £400 worth of electrical cables.

He placed his loot in the boot of the Aygo before driving off.

Hawkes was again charged with driving whilst disqualified and driving without insurance.

The defendant, who committed the offences after being released from prison on licence, pleaded guilty to all these charges.