A SERIAL burglar has been jailed for more than 30 night-time break-ins, including 10 on hairdressers, a bookshop, a pharmacy and other Forest businesses.

Samuel Davies, 24, of no fixed abode, raided commercial premises in Coleford, Lydney and Newent while on bail facing another burglary charges, and caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.

He was jailed for a total of three and a half years at Mold Crown Court, which heard that he had used a fire extinguisher to smash his way into a Coleford pharmacy on March 10, 2017.

Davies also committed two further offences at a shop and hairdressers in the town the same night, where he smashed his way in and stole cash.

Overnight between April 8 to 9, he raided a hairdressers in Lydney, although he is thought to have left empty handed.

Extensive damage was caused to a hairdressers in Newent on May 6 as Davies forced his way in and stole cash and gift vouchers, while a town bookshop’s rear window was also smashed.

Overnight between June 29 and 30, Davies turned his attentions again to Lydney, where he caused damage breaking into a hairdressers and targeted the tills, stealing cash and vouchers, and also took money burgling a shop, another hairdressers and a restaurant.

Davies, who originally comes from Llandrindod Wells, was jailed for eight months for the Forest raids. He admitted three of the burglaries and asked for the rest to be taken into consideration.

The court heard that having originally been bailed after being arrested for a £1,500 raid on a Builth Wells pub on March 3, he was in the Forest committing a spree of crimes within days.

He admitted the pub break in and 12 further break-ins, and also asked for 25 other offences to be taken into consideration.

Judge Rhys Rowlands told Davies he had failed to learn from a heavy sentence in 2015 and had committed “a raft of offending” between March and August.

“The overall loss and inconvenience to businesses has been considerable,” he said.

Ffion Tomos, defending, said her client was still only 24, suffered from schizophrenia and the offences were committed at a time when he was homeless, not taking his medication and mixing with the wrong crowd.

PC Leanne Sterry of Gloucestershire Police said after sentencing: “Davies targeted local business premises, attacking them during the early hours of the morning.

“His actions caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to premises and huge losses to the owners.

“Davies managed to remain at large for several months as he committed crimes across different force areas. We recognise the impact that this type of crime has on our communities and worked with our bordering police forces, sharing intelligence in order to bring Davies to justice.”