A HOMELESS man who went on a four-month burglary spree across Greater Manchester – including in Urmston and the Trafford Centre – has been jailed.

Carl Phillips, 41, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square, to five years in prison on Tuesday February 21.

At an earlier hearing, Phillips pleaded guilty to 19 counts of burglary and two counts of theft from a motor vehicle.

Between August 2016 and November 2016, Phillips committed a total of 19 burglaries, and stole from cars across Salford, Manchester City Centre, Eccles, Worsley, Atherton, Irlam, Trafford Centre, Urmston and Wigan.

On Monday September 5 2016, Phillips went into the Novotel Hotel, in Worsley, and stole a mobile phone and iPod Touch from a member of staff’s locker.

On the same day, Phillips also went into The Bridgewater Hotel, Worsley, and stole a bank card, purse, and driving license from a member of staff’s handbag in the staff room.

Then, on November 4 2016, Phillips targeted the La Turka restaurant, in Monton, and stole bank cards from staff members’ pockets and broke into another staff member’s car and stole her handbag.

Speaking about the verdict and sentencing, Police Constable Fiona Hughes, of Eccles Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Phillips committed a string of burglaries across Greater Manchester and showed no signs of stopping. The actions of the Eccles Neighbourhood Policing Team have been commended for their dedication to ensuring that Phillips was caught and couldn’t prey on any more innocent people."