A burglar has been jailed for 42 weeks after breaking into two businesses in a month.

Michael Daniel Bergquist admitted offences of attempted burglary and burglary.

Magistrates sentenced the 45-year-old to 21 weeks in custody for each offence to run consecutively.

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court that a witness was working in Victory House on Prospect Hill at the iQ store in Douglas at 4am on December 6.

They heard a loud bang from the floor below them and an alarm going off.

Police arrived and they found a fire door damaged to gain access to the building but nothing was taken.

The damage had been caused using a fire extinguisher and was assessed at £600.

The store also estimated that it lost £3,000 in Sunday trading due to the shop having to close for repairs.

Blood was found at the scene which matched Bergquist’s blood.

Between December 24 and 26 a burglary took place at AutoMann in Elm Tree Road in Onchan.

Two iPads, a laptop computer and an iPhone were stolen.

A witness saw a smashed window at AutoMann on December 26 as they were going to work.

Blood was again found at the property which was linked to Bergquist after DNA testing.

He was arrested on December 27 and his property searched but no items were found.

When interviewed by police he remained silent throughout.

A probation report said that Bergquist had little recollection of the offences due to drinking.

Bergquist, of Belgravia Road, Onchan, was jailed for five-and-a-half years in 2015 for burgling RHS Jewellers on Prospect Hill when he stole rings worth £25,000.

Defence advocate Paul Rodgers said that the latest offences had been committed around three years after Bergquist had been released from prison early though he was still subject to an extended licence period.

’Mr Bergquist has struggled with heroin addiction for around 20 years,’ said the advocate.

’He received a lengthy sentence for his last offence. He has made extremely positive progress. He has not been recalled during the three year period since his release.

’This was a short period of offending. Both were impulsive acts related to his alcohol use.

’No victim was present at the time. It was unsophisticated. Mr Bergquist only used things to hand such as the fire extinguisher rather than carrying tools to implement a burglary.

’He has now been recalled to prison on licence since January for almost four months but none of that time will count towards his sentence.’

Magistrates chair Carol Maddrell told Bergquist: ’You have an awful record of offending but against that we have heard you have been out of trouble since coming out of prison.

’You stole high value items and twice in quick succession.’

Ms Maddrell said that no action would be taken in respect of Bergquist’s licence.