BURGLAR Stephen Patrick Edwards left Wrexham, gave up drugs and started life afresh in the Birmingham area.

But when his new relationship hit a rocky patch he returned to Wrexham and was soon back on drugs - and he relapsed into his old ways.

Edwards, 32, was sent back to jail for three-and-a-half years after he admitted two house burglaries at Paddock Road in Ruabon and Bangor Road in Johnstown.

Mold Crown Court was told he had spent 13 of the last 16 years inside a custodial institution of one sort or another and was institutionalised.

He had been getting his life together - until he returned to Wrexham.

The court heard how he was ashamed he had dragged his younger brother into it and put pressure on him to act as a lookout in one burglary.

The brother, Ian Edwards, 19, of Heol y Plas, Cefn Mawr, admitted one burglary charge and in the circumstances escaped a prison sentence.

He was ordered to carry out 200 hours unpaid work under a community punishment order.

Judge Huw Daniel said he took the view Ian Edwards had been under his brother's thumb at the time.

But he warned if he did it again then he could expect a sentence in years, not months.

Judge Daniel told Stephen Edwards he had caused great distress by breaking into the homes of people, where they thought that they would be safe.

'You have committed burglary after burglary in dwelling houses,' the judge told him.

Stephen Edwards, who had been living in Chelmsey Wood, Birmingham, but who was now of no fixed abode, was told burglary victims often lived like prisoners in their own home, afraid even to open the windows for fresh air in case 'there is someone like you lurking about outside'.

The judge said it was clear the defendant had been back on heroin and needed money.

'I have no doubt you are now remorseful and you are also remorseful that you introduced your younger brother to house burglary,' Judge Daniel told him.

David Potter, for Stephen Edwards, said his client had received lengthy prison sentences for burglary in the past but he had started life afresh in the West Midlands.

But when he returned to Wrexham to give the relationship he had a bit of space his life fell apart again.

Mr Potter said: 'He had left Wrexham in the first place to get away from drugs.

'When he returned, he was quickly back on drugs and was offending to fund the habit. He started committing house burglaries just as he had done years previously.'