A MAN who committed two burglaries in Atherton as part of a crime spree across Greater Manchester has been jailed for five years.

Carl Phillips, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court last Tuesday after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to 19 counts of burglary and two counts of theft from a motor vehicle.

The 41-year-old committed the crimes in Atherton, Salford, Manchester city centre, Eccles, Worsley, Monton, Irlam, The Trafford Centre, Urmston and Wigan between August and November.

Mobile phones, laptops, Ipod Touches, bank cards, purses, handbags and driving licences were among the items he stole.

On September 28 Phillips committed two burglaries on Bolton Road in Atherton.

He stole a purse containing £400 and a cash box with £2,300 inside it from The Lion pub at 9.35pm before jumping over the reception desk at Atherton Roller Rink 15 minutes later and taking a £400 laptop and a dongle worth £15.

Earlier that night Philips was escorted out of St Philip's Church of England Primary School on Bolton Old Road by the caretaker after being found in the office and saying he was at the school to pick up his son from judo.

The school does not hold judo classes.

Philips did not steal anything from the school.

PC Fiona Hughes said: “Phillips committed a string of burglaries across Greater Manchester and showed no signs of stopping."

She added that the actions of the police officers involved in the case 'have been commended for their dedication to ensuring that Phillips was caught and could not prey on any more innocent people'.