A burglar who stole cherished designer handbags from a university student's home palmed one of them off on his girlfriend as a Christmas present.

Miles Seville broke into the young woman's flat in Leicester, while she was on holiday, and left blood with his identifiable DNA at the crime scene as his calling card, a court heard.

He had smashed a window to gain entry before making off with two bags from the US brand, Tommy Hilfiger, and a Michael Kors designer bag.

Seville also took clothing, a ring, an array of perfume, an iPod and £250 in cash, between December 14 and Christmas Day.

Leicester Crown Court was told that when police officers went to arrest drug addict Seville at an address with which he was linked, they recovered one of the stolen Tommy Hilfiger bags.

He had gifted it to his girlfriend for Christmas.

Seville, of Pool Road, Dane Hills, Leicester, appeared in court via a live video link from prison.

The 46-year-old pleaded guilty to burgling the student's flat in Regents Court, Rawson Street, in the city centre, and taking property worth in excess of £1,200.

He also asked for an earlier burglary at St Margaret's Church House, in Leicester, last September, to be taken into consideration.

Raqlan Ashton, prosecuting, said the student was so distressed by the break-in and loss of possessions, including personal items of clothing and coveted designer handbags, that she has since moved address despite "considerable expense" to relocate.

In a victim impact statement she said: "It's hard to focus on anything.

"I think about it all the time and it's been affecting my university experience as a result."

What the judge said

Judge Nicholas Dean QC said: "You've committed burglaries many times in the past - and have committed many more burglaries than is necessary to qualify for a third-strike minimum three-year term.

"Sometimes it's possible to take a view that someone is worth a risk.

"You've shown a willingness to address your issues previously on licence but invariably you re-offend when you're not under supervision.

"The court has no choice but to impose an immediate mandatory minimum sentence.

"Although you were working in July, you offended in September and the burglary you committed in December was distressing for the student whose accommodation was broken into.

"You're already a middle-aged man.

"Unless you rid yourself of drug addiction you're going to continue to be before the courts time and again."

The mitigation

Amar Mehta, mitigating, said: "He has a chronic addiction to crack-cocaine and heroin which has been longstanding since childhood.

"His mental health has deteriorated.

"He has been showing some commitment to change."

Seville was jailed for three years and three months.