A PROLIFIC burglar has been jailed for over two years after being caught stealing from four homes and then absconding from court.

Aaron Coaker, 40, was charged with four counts of buglary between October 18 and 23 last year and one count of burglary from a shop on May 5 this year.

The 40-year-old was arrested following the first four thefts but then failed to show up at Reading Magistrates Court on January 10.

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He was caught four months later stealing from a store in Reading and was arrested.

Coaker, of Belmont Read, Reading, was sentenced on Tuesday (June 20) at Reading Crown Court to 26 months imprisonment.

Prosecuting, Sahira Bashir said Coaker carried out the buglarlies with a co-defendant who has already been sentenced.

The first occurred on October 18 from a property in Sherman Street, Reading when £1,000 worth of batteries, tools, food, washiing tablets and other items were stolen from an attached garage and storage room.

A few days later on October 23, the following three burglary counts occurred. The first was a property in Waverly Road where two bikes worth £1,800 was stolen.

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Ms Bashir said: “It was reported that the home owners had awoken to see the their bike shed was hanging open and saw that two bikes were missing with damage to the hinge of the door.

“Later that day, they noted the the van parked in the rear driveway had also been interfered with.”

At about 5am, two further bikes worth £90 were stolen from a property in Windrush Way. A second property was targeted on the same road but nothing was taken.

Lastly between 5am and 5.34am, bikes, tools, a toolbox and more was taken from a shed in Colliers Way totalling £778.

Coaker was later arrested and was due in court but absconded. During this time, he and his co-defendant targeted The Bite Café in Cavendish Road, Emmer Green on May 5.

Food worth £15 to £20 was stolen and a mobile phone before police caught the men.

The court heard that Coaker, appearing over video link from custody, has 18 previous convinctions for 58 offences.

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His defence barrister said the 40-year-old was a drug user and had only absconded to help assist his ill mother who needed to attend hospital every few days.

Sentencing Coaker, Recorder John Bate-Williams said: “You’re a prolific burglar, causing a lot of misery and inconvienance.”