A MAN who deliberately targeted a centre for adults with learning disabilities, burgling it three times in one week, has been jailed for 11 months.

Jamie Laing, 36, of Station Road, Ilminster, pleaded guilty to three counts of entering Sweet Surprise in Ilminster and stole cash, three cameras and a Playstation 3 console on June 19, 21 and 26.

He also admitted assaulting his partner by beating her at her home in Ilminster on July 30.

When he was arrested, he admitted committing the offences saying the door had opened easily, the court heard.

In another incident he carried out a vicious assault on his pregnant partner where he strangled her, pushed her against a wall before punching her in the face and dragging her across the road by her hair and upper arms.

Prosecutor Julyan Stephens said Sweet Surprise’s manager discovered there had been two burglaries at the premises, one on June 19 when money was stolen.

“On June 21, more money was taken, and on June 26 a third burglary occurred during the early hours where entry was gained and money along with a Playstation console and three digital cameras were stolen,” he said.

“CCTV was viewed and a male was seen in dark clothing and it caught the defendant’s face who was identified as Laing.

“He was arrested and during interview made admissions to all three burglaries saying the door opened easily.”

He said cash was in sweet bags in the office, saying he was a drug user and was using crack cocaine at the time.

The second burglary he was “in and out” and said he stole around £300 in cash and caused £700 worth of damage.

During a separate incident Laing grabbed his girlfriend by the throat and pushed her against a wall, the court heard returned home after meeting a friend and his mood deteriorated when he accused his pregnant girlfriend of cheating on him.

“He grabbed her by the throat making it difficult for her to breathe and pushed her back against a wall causing a cut to her forehead,” said Mr Stephens.

“He pinned her to the wall and punched her causing a cut to her lip and then dragged her across the road by her hair and upper arms.

“Eventually he let go and calmed down and she called the police the next day saying she had rowed with the defendant.”

When Laing was interviewed he said he was tipsy as he had been drinking and questioned the victim who admitted having an affair some time ago.

He said he pulled her into the flat by her hand and although he denied the assault, admitted the offence when he was in court.

In a victim impact statement read to the court Laing’s partner said the incident made her feel scared and intimidated, especially as she was pregnant with the defendant’ child.

She said: “I feel very lonely because he is the only person I rely on and he has let me down but I cannot go on living in fear of him.”

In mitigation, Sam Morton said Laing claimed the door at the sweet shop opened very easily and that was the reason why he went back there again.

“He had relapsed back on to drugs and did not know the premises was a charity as it just looked like a sweet shop,” he said.

He said there had been a five year gap in Laing’s offending when he was in a stable relationship but then he lost his father in 2013 and was struggling with his partner’s own health issues.

“This resulted in him relapsing into drug use and he has now lost everything,” said Mr Morton.

“However he has been clean from all drugs for the last two weeks and has also been having bereavement counselling.”

In another incident Laing viciously assaultedcarried out a vicious assault on his pregnant partner where he strangled her, pushed her against a wall before punching her in the face and dragging her across the road by her hair and upper arms.

Magistrates sentenced Laing to 11 months – three months’ custody for each of the burglaries and two months for the assault, all to run consecutively. A £140 victim surcharge was also imposed.