A REDDITCH burglar with a long list of previous convictions is rethinking his life after being hospitalised by a serious assault at the start of his latest spell in jail, a court heard.

Craig Jones, aged 28, spent a week in hospital after the life-threatening attack two days after he was arrested for breaking into a garage at a house in Redditch, Worcester Crown Court was told.

His barrister, Richard Hull, said Jones had 25 previous convictions and had been in jail before but the attack had prompted him to reconsider his future.

"It was a life-threatening incident and it has caused him to reflect," Mr Hull said. "He wants to move away from the area and move on with his life when he is released."

Jones was seen at a house in Lench Close, Redditch, by the householder outside her garage with a cardboard box after he had broken in, Sarah Midgley, prosecuting, told the court.

He went into Kite Lane nearby and was seen trying to break into another garage and a car.

"It was an attempted spree," Miss Midgley said.

Police also found a call he had made on his mobile phone shortly after the break-in offering to sell power tools he had stolen. They included a drill bit set and a heat gun and he sold them for £10, Miss Midgley said.

Jones of Salters Lane pleaded guilty to one charge of burglary and two of attempted burglary.

Judge Robert Juckes, QC, said Jones had a "formidable record" and had been given a chance on his last court appearance but had breached the suspended sentence he was given.

"If you keep on committing offences, you will get long and longer sentences," the judge told Jones.

He was sentenced to 12 months plus 51 weeks of the suspended sentence, a total of just under two years.