A man who told police he stole a laptop to raise money for his mother who had fallen ill in Romania has been jailed.

Daniel Costel Enache, 25 of no fixed abode, broke into a house in Green Lane, in St Helier, on July 23 at 11.30am.

He stole a £600 silver coloured Hewlett Packard laptop computer from a desk in a bedroom.

A neighbour saw Enache, carrying a laptop computer, climbing out of a rear window into the rear garden and over a rear fence into Love Lane.

Forensic evidence left at the scene was traced to Enache, who police found sleeping rough near Morden Underground Station.

Enache told police that he needed money to help his mother in Romania after she had fallen ill and gone into hospital.

He said he had sold the laptop at a shop in Morden, sending £50 to his father in Romania and keeping £20 for himself.

Sentenced by virtual court at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court on Friday, August 3, Enache wasjailed for 14 weeks after pleading guilty to burglary.