A MAN who broke into a home and a takeaway is already in jail for break-ins.

Andrew Mudge, 55, pleaded guilty at Dumbarton Sheriff Court on December 19 to breaking into a flat in Lennox Street, Renton and stealing household items and furniture.

He also broke into the Spice of Life takeaway in Main Street, Alexandria and stole a sum of money. Both charges date from 2020.

Mudge, of John Street, Renton, pleaded not guilty to breaking into the Londis in Main Street, Renton, with intent to steal on February 14, 2021. That was accepted by the Crown.

A not-guilty plea was also accepted to a separate case of stealing fixtures and fittings from a home in Red Row, Dumbarton, on November 9, 2021.

The fiscal depute told the court that the owner of the property in Lennox Street was selling and was doing a check to make sure all was in order.

He discovered pieces of wood outside the door, which was closed but not locked.

There were numerous items missing, such as a picture frame, duvet and lamp. There was also a screwdriver that didn't belong to him.

The microwave had been moved from the kitchen to the living room and was in a black bin bag.

Police investigators found DNA on the screwdriver that matched Mudge.

They also found DNA at the Spice of Life after it was broken into between November 8 and 9, 2020. The owner had found numerous items scattered and an upstairs flat broken into.

Mudge's defence solicitor said his client was jailed for 27 months in September 2023 for similar crimes dating to April 2022.

Sheriff William Gallacher admitted he remembered Mudge but not the previous case.

He said given the man's "increasing maturity", there needed to be some support on his eventual release from jail.

His solicitor said his client had a "long-standing drug problem" with a "catastrophic" impact on his life.

Sheriff Gallacher deferred sentence until January 23 for consideration of options after prison.

He told Mudge: "I would quite like you not to be breaking into people's houses and quite like you not to be affected by drugs that you need to."