A BURGLAR who carried out a New Year’s Eve raid on a home whilst high on crack cocaine as its occupants slept has been jailed.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how Daniel Waters, 25, had racked up three burglary convictions this year.

Prosecutor Jenny Yeo said the latest was carried out in Arcadia Way, Trevethin, Pontypool, at 6.30am on December 31, 2017.

She said Waters had armed himself with a crowbar and stolen a motorcross bike from an outbuilding and a child’s mountain bike worth £350 as the occupants in the house slept.

But they were roused from their sleep during the raid and one of them chased the defendant who dropped the motorcross bike before fleeing.

Waters was recognised by the victim and DNA left at the scene linked him to the crime.

He was arrested at his girlfriend’s home.

The prosecutor said the defendant, who was appearing in court via video link from HMP Parc Prison, was jailed for 16 months in January for a burglary committed in November.

The court heard how he was sentenced to a four-month consecutive jail term in May for a further burglary.

The Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Eleri Rees heard how the victims of the Arcadia Way raid had been left “very nervous” following their ordeal and had now installed CCTV cameras at their home.

Karl Williams, for Waters, said the best mitigation he could put forward was that his client had entered a guilty plea at the earliest possible opportunity.

His barrister said the defendant had been in an 11-year relationship, which involved children, which had broken down.

As a result of that collapse, Mr Williams said: “He began to abuse crack cocaine – as much as he could get.”

The court heard how Waters carried out the New Year’s Eve burglary “whilst in the midst of this abuse – he has little recollection of it”.

Judge Rees jailed him for a further 16 months and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge.

Waters’ address is listed as Parc Prison.