Macclesfield's most prolific burglar is finally off the town’s streets after a judge jailed him for two years.

Notorious Darren Carnochan, 39, who has a record spanning two decades, had until now avoided capture after his heroin addiction drove him to commit a spate of thefts near his home on Mill Lane.

But he was eventually caught by Macclesfield Police after breaking into a Lord Street home and stealing £3,500 of goods’. including a wedding ring a month before the occupants’ big day.

Officers have welcomed his sentence and declared the town a safer place after Carnochan, who has a record of 17 dwelling burglaries dating back almost 20 years, was sent to prison. Inspector Jez Taylor, head of Macclesfield Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "The offences were all committed within a stone’s throw of his residence. It just shows that police will take robust action against any offender, especially those committing this kind of offence. It sends a clear message to anyone who is in this line of business. Certainly within a short space of time he committed an enormous amount of offences within a small location. That does have an impact on individuals."

The dad-of-two appeared at Chester Crown Court on Monday (February 15) charged with burglary of a couple’s home on Lord Street in November 2009.

Pleading guilty to an offence of burglary, Carnochan asked for a further six offences to be taken into consideration which involved the theft of goods totalling £6,000, the court heard.

The court was told he already had been convicted of 10 other burlgaries over the last 20 years.

Counsel for the prosecution, Peter Hussey, told the court: "He (the occupant of Lord Street) had gone to work in the morning leaving his home secure. He returned home from work to discover that all the lights were on and the lounge had been broken into through a sash window. He then discovered a large amount of electrical goods and jewellery had been stolen from inside the house. Not only that, he stole two canvas bags to transport the property away.

"The couple had been engaged for some time and were due to get married a month later, and one of the things that was stolen was the wedding ring."

Police were informed and visited Carnochan the next day, discovering a stash of stolen goods.

Mr Hussey told the court Carnochan had ‘fallen back into the grip of drug addiction’ and stole to fund the habit.

"For his (the victim) part he has made a victim statement to explain the impact. It’s nothing beyond the normal but he was upset with the wedding ring," he added.

Counsel for the defence, Debra White, said: "I refer to what the pre-sentence report said. It’s no excuse but perhaps an explanation of underlying issues. Because of those particular traumas, he takes the substances that he does. The length of time he has been addicted he has found it a struggle but he will welcome the assistance the court will give him."

The Recorder of Chester Judge Elgin Edwards said: "Those dwelling house burglaries involved substantial amounts of money, £3,500 and £6,000, custody is quite inevitable. The next time you commit a dwelling house burglary you will fall foul of a three-year sentence."