Thief Carl Bentham broke into home next door on Larchmont Road, Leicester

A burglar stole computers from his neighbour's home, so he could buy a pushchair for his unborn child.

Carl Bentham had blown his pushchair money on drugs, before breaking into the home of a single mum neighbour, after he saw her going out.

Bentham was living at his then partner's home in Larchmont Road, off Anstey Lane, Leicester.

The 26-year-old admitted burglary and theft of two computers and £20, on January 2.

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He sold the items – given as presents to the children and worth about £3,000 – for £360 at Leicester Market.

Alan Murphy, prosecuting at Leicester Crown Court, said the victim was so distraught she planned to move.

A victim impact statement revealed she and her two children were left "scared and upset".

Mr Murphy said: "The items were taken from the children's bedrooms and were used daily by them."

Bentham, who was recently bailed to a temporary address in Colwell Road, near Blackbird Road, Leicester, also admitted attempted robbery of a motorist on December 11 and common assault on the man's friend.

Mr Murphy said the incident was captured on CCTV as Bentham got into a man's parked car and unsuccessfully demanded money.

It ended up with the defendant punching the motorist's associate several times in the street.

Vasanti Vaitha, mitigating, said the attempted robbery related to the motorist having earlier sold him unsatisfactory drugs and he went back to demand his money back.

Bentham was jailed for a total of 27 months.

Sentencing, Recorder Marcus Tregilgas-Davey told Bentham: "She was a single mother and you realised she was easy prey.

"The effect on her and her children has been devastating and she's so unnerved she's having to move, all because you wanted some money to buy a pushchair for your unborn child, as you'd spent the money on drugs two days before."

Bentham further admitted possessing a small amount of cannabis for personal use when he was arrested.

The court heard he had 58 previous offences on his record.

Miss Vaitha said: "He made frank admissions in interview.

"The burglary was opportunistic. His former partner has now given birth to their son.

"He knows he has a lot of work to prove himself to his family."