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A heroin addict who burgled two Luton vicarages and stole from another house while en route to a court hearing has been jailed for three years.

Wayne Carass, 31, of Clydesdale Road, Luton, is currently serving a 30-month term for other burglaries and thefts, Luton Crown Court heard.

Carass admitted two charges of burglary and asked for one other to be taken into consideration.

The three-year term will begin when his current sentence ends in October 2011.

In August, Judge Jeffrey Burke QC told Carass he had "blown many chance" to conquer his addiction and sentenced him to 30 months for burglaries and thefts carried out between January and June 2010.

Prosecutor Claudette Elliott said that earlier in August, Carass had burgled three properties, all on Leagrave High Street.

He was en route to court for a separate matter on 5 August when he burgled a house, stealing a safe.

He was arrested the same day and bailed, and three days later broke into the home of a Catholic priest and stole £615 in cash.

On 14 August, he broke into a house behind St Luke's Church. He stole jewellery which had been given to the owner by her recently deceased mother.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, she said: "What she gave me was extremely sentimental.

"The items were going to be given to my grandchildren. I cannot believe a church can be targeted for a burglary."

Jailing Carass, Judge John Bevan QC said: "Why you target the property of those trying to help the community I know not. Perhaps you regard them as an easy target.

"Your heroin addiction should not be inflicted on others. They are entitled to be spared having their property stolen and sold on for a fraction of its value to support your heroin addiction."

Yasmin Punjani, defending, said: "A significant event occurred in his life when he was 15 and he has been a heroin addict for half his life."