A SPATE of burglaries at an Oxford hospital has landed a man in prison.

Daniel Robert Southwell, 31, of Morrell Crescent, Oxford stole items from flats and staff areas at the Littlemore mental health centre after taking drugs.

He also smashed a bathroom door and removed it from its hinges at a hostel he was temporarily staying at.

The mechanic targeted a vacant flat on the hospital site over the Christmas period and again in early January when he stole a kettle, toaster and microwave as well as bottles of whiskey and diet coca cola.

He was arrested and bailed but continued to break the law and forced his way into a shower and changing area at the hospital where he was spotted on CCTV before leaving without taking anything.

On January 30, in the early hours of the morning, he broke into a flat in Between Towns Road, disturbing the woman who lived there and stealing a carrier bag containing £10 worth of items.

Southwell admitted one count of criminal damage and four counts of burglary and was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Tuesday.

He refused to appear over video link from his cell in Bullingdon prison with staff there describing him as 'deeply uncooperative'.

In mitigation, defence barrister Jane Brady said Southwell suffers from mental health problems and his mood fluctuates but he has so far been 'resistant to treatment.'

He was taking cocaine at the time and 'did not know what he was doing', according to Ms Brady.

The court heard how Southwell had attempted to get on with his life and was trained as a mechanic but he was left without any family or friends after his father's death.

Judge Ian Pringle QC said it was a 'depressing picture'.

He added: "I feel completely powerless to do anything constructive. I can only do what the law asks me to."

He passed a sentence of 14 months in prison and a victim surcharge.