A SERIAL burglar who targeted the Nothe Fort and Redlands Sports Centre in Weymouth has been jailed for more than two years.

Dorchester Crown Court was told that Michael Mortimer, also known as Rossiter, ransacked the Nothe Fort on the night of April 15, causing thousands of pounds of damage.

The 24-year-old also burgled Redlands Sports Centre and the Gallery on the Wey, in Upwey, within half an hour on the night of April 27.

While on bail for those offences Mortimer, of Damers Road, Dorchester, caused criminal damage to his ex-partner’s flat between May 13 and 15.

He was sentenced to a total of two years and four months in prison.

Prosecutor Richard Withey told the court the defendant deliberately targeted the Nothe Fort and stole cash to the value of around £450.

He said: “Mortimer broke into the premises by smashing five windows.

“The value of the damage is in excess of £2,000. There was quite a lot of damage to the windows and ransacking.”

Less than two weeks later at 12.12am he broke into the Gallery on the Wey by smashing a set of French doors and ransacked the property, Mr Withey said.

He said: “Not much was taken – a box containing one earring, a pencil and a marker pen.

“In the space of half an hour CCTV at Weymouth sports club in Redlands showed two men entering the sports hall through a set of fire doors and rummaging through reception.

“Nothing was taken,” he added.

Mr Withey said the defendant sent his ex-girlfriend, with whom he has a child, abusive text messages and made threatening phone calls before trashing her flat.

He said: “There was a considerable amount of damage – clothing had been ripped, bed sheets slashed and cleaning products thrown over the walls.

“The TV and a camera were smashed.”

Mortimer has 12 previous convictions for 36 offences, a number of which are burglaries, both dwelling and non-dwelling, as well as arson and dangerous driving, the court was told.

In mitigation Samuel Magee told the court the defendant had pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and cooperated with police.

He said: “He accepts he has been off the rails. He comes from a broken home and had an unhappy childhood.”

Judge Jarvis told the defendant: “You have a dreadful record with an enormous number of burglaries and were sentenced to a lengthy period in custody.

“Not long after your release you are out burgling again.

“The criminal damage was a shabby offence, you were in a relationship with the victim and you set about destroying her property.”

He was given a two year concurrent sentence for the three burglaries, three months for the criminal damage and one month for an additional offence of driving while disqualified.

He was also disqualified from driving for one year.