Peter Rowlands hit Reading Central Library and Sainsbury's in Calcot during a spree of thefts

Peter Rowlands, of Waylen Street, Reading, carried out a spate of thefts between July and September last year, stealing cash and booze while he was on licence for a previous offence of theft from 2015.

The 32-year-old admitted to two counts of burglary and one count of theft and was sentenced to 10 months in prison at Reading Crown Court on Thursday.

Rowlands was addicted to cocaine and alcohol when he stole two bottles of vodka from the Sainsbury's in Calcot on July 4 before he was caught on CCTV and arrested by police.

He also stole money from the till at Thameside Hotel and Reading Central Library on September 17, giving away his identity when he used the phone in the hotel after setting off the fire alarm.

Lisa Goddard, prosecuting, said the damage to the hotel was in excess of £3,000 and explained how Rowlands escaped from the library by breaking a window.

Judge Paul Dugdale considered a more lenient punishment, but decided to send Rowlands to prison after he refused to take part in rehabilitation.

He said: "You were driven all the way to Nottingham for rehabilitation and you said you were not ready.

"Until you get to the stage where it is more than just words the court must put protecting the public first. If you are prepared to do something the court will do all it can to help you to make something of your life.

"For smaller businesses this kind of attack causes damage not only to the building but the employees who are all abiding by the law."

Michael Phillips, mitigating, said the defendant had shown genuine remorse and suggested a suspended sentence to allow him to take part in a recovery programme.

Staff at the hotel saw the damage to the till the following morning and noticed a charity box had been taken, while a caretaker for the library caught the thief on CCTV.

Rowlands was sentenced to 10 months in prison for the two counts of burglary and two months for shoplifting to run concurrently.