A PROLIFIC burglar from Chester has been jailed for 29 months.

Robert Matthews, 25, of Kingsway, Sussex Road, was convicted of three offences of burglary, a breach of his suspended sentence, possessing an offensive weapon and driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Prosecuting, David Jones told Chester Crown Court on Friday Matthews received a 12-month suspended sentence in May for a burglary committed in Childer Thornton.

Matthews had pleaded guilty to burgling the Foregate Street Wok & Go takeaway in June, taking nearly £3,000.

Later that month, Matthews was driving in the Ellesmere Port area when a witness overheard him say: “I have a hammer down my trousers and I am going to smash smiley’s face in.”

The hammer was confiscated and destroyed by police.

The court heard Matthews had previous convictions including a robbery in 2002 and 35 burglaries.

Defending, John Oakes said: “He does suffer from psychosis and depression. He has been receiving treatment for that.

“He is a young man who is determined to get himself into trouble.

“He has two young children and was working until his employers discovered his criminal record and then sacked him.”

Judge David Hale said: “You have committed quite a lot of offences and you must have known you would receive a prison sentence.”

Matthews was sentenced to 12 months for the burglaries, four months for possessing the offensive weapon, one month for the driving offence and 12 months for the suspended sentence breach.

Matthews shouted “Cheers, Mr H!” as he was being taken from the docks to the cells.