A NOTORIOUS burglar who was caught on CCTV pushing a shopping trolley containing a stolen safe has been given 30 weeks in prison.

Craig Russell was handed more than half a year behind bars for a string of burglaries, two of which he committed in Cirencester within 72 hours of coming out of prison.

The 44-year-old, of no fixed abode, had been released from a 12 week sentence on Wednesday for burgling two properties on Sheep Street, including charity Cotswold Counselling, when he was spotted acting suspiciously on CCTV.

He was seen by camera operators on Sheep Street in the early hours of Saturday night and police moved in to stop and search him.

They found no incriminating evidence but, with their suspicions aroused, the officers stayed around the area to keep an eye on him.

Once he believed police had gone he broke into an 82-year-old woman’s shed in Castle Street before jumping over the back wall into the Marlborough Arms, where he tried to smash through the fire exit.

As police became aware of his activities, eight officers encircled the street to make sure he could not escape and a helicopter was scrambled to the scene.

Before it could arrive Russell was apprehended by police.

Russell was charged and appeared in court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to both counts of burglary.

He was also charged with a previous burglary on the West Cornwall Pasty Co in Cricklade Street on August 13 where he stole a safe and was seen pushing it through Cirencester in a shopping trolley.

He took the safe to Holy Trinity Church in Watermoor Road and levered it open with a crowbar which was later used as evidence because it contained his DNA. His footprint was also found in the shop.

A police spokesman said: “It was good work by the CCTV operators for spotting him and good work from acting sergeant Simon Laird for keeping an eye on him.”

Russell had just been released from prison after another string of offences in Cirencester.

“We didn’t feel that the 12 weeks he was given for the burglaries was enough,” the police spokesman said. “We had appealed to the CPS but nothing had come from it. The total of 30 weeks, 18 weeks for the burglaries over the weekend and 12 for the pasty shop, seems like an adequate punishment.”

In September, Gloucestershire Police put out a plea to help find Mr Russell after he cut off his electronic tag.

He was not considered a threat but police advised people not to approach him.