A BURGLAR who stole laptops from schools in Widnes has been jailed for four years.

Thomas Sweeney, aged 44, of Molyneux Close, Huyton, was sentenced at Chester Crown Court after admitting four charges of burglary at an earlier hearing.

He stole a laptop from Bankfield High School in Liverpool Road, between November 19 and 20, 2013.

Sweeney admitted taking several laptops from Wade Deacon High School in Birchfield Road on December 4, 2013.

He stole a laptop and a purse from Riverside College, Kingsway on May 7, 2014.

He admitted stealing golf equipment from Sandiway Golf Club in Chester Road, Sandiway overnight between June 9 and 10, 2014.

Deborah Carter of the Widnes Pro-Active Policing Team said "Sweeney stole laptops and personal belongings from these premises.

“The theft of the laptops in particular had a massive impact on some of the students as some of them contained work which was needed for GCSEs at one of the schools.

"As well as the effect on the students there was a financial cost to the schools as it meant they had to replace the laptops which in the current economic climate had a huge impact on their budgets."

Sweeney was sentenced on Monday, November 24.