A Neath man who carried out a one-man crime campaign while on holiday in Tenby has been jailed for four years.

Darren John Inder, aged 33, broke into 15 houses in just two weeks and got away with cash, credit cards and jewellery.

Swansea crown court heard on Monday, how he burgled properties in Green Crescent, Warren Street, The Glebe, The Green, Broadwell Hayes, Lyndhurst, West Cliff, Heywood Lane and Serpentine Road.

Creighton Harvey, prosecuting, said all the break-ins took place in the middle of the night while the occupants slept.

Inder, of Chamberlain Street, Neath, also admitted a series of thefts and attempted thefts, and possessing seven grams of heroin.

All the crimes were carried out while he holidayed in a caravan at Kiln Park with his then girlfriend Nicola in June of this year.

Mr. Harvey said most of the occupants had been elderly, but only one had been disturbed during the burglaries.

He said Inder had tried to use the stolen credit cards and on one occasion managed to extract £300 from a cash machine.

He was arrested on June 26 at the caravan he had been using and officers found the drugs.

During two days of questioning, Inder confessed to the burglaries and helped police recover some of the stolen items, which included a £1,300 wrist watch.

He said he had operated by creeping into gardens and feeling door handles to find one that was unlocked.

Inder also confessed to carrying out 10 burglaries in the Port Talbot area.

His barrister, Frank Phillips, said Inder, a father of two, had been addicted to heroin and needed the proceeds of his crimes to fund his habit.

Inder, he added, was now deeply ashamed.

The court heard that Inder began his offending just one day after a suspended prison sentence had expired.

Judge Keith Thomas said Inder had a dreadful record for house burglaries and on this occasion had subjected the people of Tenby to a campaign of crime.

During one break-in, the 73-year-old woman living there had woken up.

"She was understandably terrified at hearing you breaking in," added the judge.

"Many of the occupiers were elderly and in some cases children were present," he added.

Detective Sergeant Aled Williams of Dyfed-Powys Police said: "This sentence sends out a clear message to offenders who want to commit crime in Pembrokeshire.

"We will not tolerate this type of criminal activity. In addition, burglaries of this nature are rare in our county, but we would like to remind residents to be vigilant and to ensure their premises are secure, locking doors and windows to prevent easy access," he added.