A SOUTHAMPTON man who burgled and trashed a city flat has been jailed for 18 months.

Malcolm Sims, 34, broke into the flat in Sturminster House, Millbrook, while the householder was out on January 3.

Sims, of Clarence House, York Close, Northam, kicked in the door of the seventh floor flat and smashed it up. He admitted burglary.

Winchester Crown Court heard that among the things wrecked were a glass coffee table, a TV, bedroom windows and two acoustic guitars. A washing machine was damaged.

The cost of replacements, even with second-hand goods, would be £610, the court heard.

Andrew Massey, mitigating, said Sims had struggled to overcome drugs problems. But sentencing, Judge Patrick Hooton said: "I recognise you have problems, but what am I going to say to the girl whose flat it was? You went in there and wrecked it. You behaved disgracefully."