A MAN who ransacked two homes in the run up to Christmas, making off with presents, toys, jewellery and heirlooms, was today jailed for 27 months.

Nicky Ellis, 32, was a drug addict wanting money to fuel his habit and to buy festive gifts for his own family, Bradford Crown Court heard this morning.

Ellis, of Albert Terrace, Oakenshaw, Bradford, had previously been in jail for housebreaking and handling stolen goods.

He pleaded guilty to burgling houses in Westfield Lane, Wyke, Bradford, and Taylor Road, Odsal, Bradford, on December 10 last year.

Prosecutor Jonathan Sharp said the first property was home to a retired couple who had lived there for nearly 30 years.

They arrived back in the late afternoon to find the house had been ransacked, with drawers tipped out and much of their property missing.

Among the haul was a laptop computer, mobile phone, commemorative coins and children's toys.

Ellis and an accomplice, who has not been caught, next targeted a care worker's home. They made an untidy search of the rooms and made off with a large quantity of commemorative coins, jewellery and a Stihl saw.

The burglars smashed their way in through a patio door in the daylight burglary.

Mr Sharp said Ellis was arrested in the area after he was seen behaving suspiciously in a van.

The police searched the vehicle and recovered property stolen from the two break-ins.

More of the missing items were found in Ellis's pockets, the court was told.

Mr Sharp said the retired couple's victim personal statement revealed that they were left "sick and shocked" by the raid on their home. Damage was done to irreplaceable items and they no longer felt it safe to leave the property unoccupied.

Ellis's barrister, Jon Gregg, said his client had planned to marry in August.

He had completed a computer course while on remand in prison.

Mr Gregg said Ellis had held down jobs in the past but he made "silly decisions in order to please" when he wanted money.

He had burgled the homes to feed his cocaine and cannabis addiction and to buy Christmas presents.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, said house burglars almost invariably ended up going straight to prison and Ellis would be no exception.

These raids were planned, targeted and involved two people and the use of a getaway vehicle.