A MAN who stole more than £4,000 worth of perfume from a shop he had already been convicted for stealing from just two days before, has been jailed for two years.

John Duckworth, 45, appeared at the Isle of Wight Crown Court this morning (Friday) where he was sentenced for one count of burglary.

The court heard how Duckworth had broken into Regent Beauty in Shanklin for a second time after having previously been convicted for burgling the shop on October 30.

Duckworth, of Regent Street, Shanklin, had received a 12-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months on November 6 for the first burglary.

At his initial hearing at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on November 12, prosecutor Ann Smout, said: "On November 8 at around 4.10am Duckworth again gained entry to Regent Beauty on Regent Street.

"He entered the shop through a boarded-up window, knowing the window was a weakness owing to the burglary he carried out previously.

"He has a long track record of offences while on bail and he returned to the same place just days after being given a suspended sentence and committed a near identical crime.

"The £4,000 worth of items stolen have still not been found."

In a victim statement read out to the court, the director of Regent Beauty detailed how he may be forced to close the shop if it continues to suffer burglaries.

Duckworth's defence, Barry Arnett, said: "He has little or no recollection of the events of that night.

"He has been taking Xanax again, and mixing that with alcohol, but he really is aware of the impact this has had on this small business.

"He genuinely does not know where the property he stole went."

At his sentencing, Duckworth apologised, He said: "I am really sincerely sorry for what has happened.

"I'd been having a lot of problems, and I'd been given some tablets at a friends house and so I took them. I know I shouldn't have."

He said he hoped it didn't affect the businesses and he hoped it would not have to close because of his actions.

Judge Charles Morrison said: "The court does recognise your sincere apologies.

"But the wanton disregard for the suspended sentence you received only two days before this incident is a severely aggravating factor."