Steven Fisher, from Alfreton, would raid people's homes during the day and steal money and goods, such as jewellery, clothes and mobile phones to fund his drug habit.

Police said he was one of the most prolific offenders in Amber Valley and Erewash.

At Derby Crown Court, the 34-year-old, of Willows Avenue, pleaded guilty to two charges of burglary.

But he asked for 154 house burglaries, 13 burglaries at businesses, two car thefts and three other thefts to be taken into account.

One of his victims, a 52-year-old woman from the Alfreton area, who asked not to be named, said Fisher's actions had left lasting mental scars and the sentence was not long enough.

Fisher stole a jewellery box after smashing a window to get into her house in January. She said: "My brother and I were orphaned by the time we were in our mid-teens and the jewellery was the only thing we had left of our parents. It's still very upsetting and I can still cry now.

"Even now, I find myself looking in jewellers' windows. I can't describe how I feel about it – my stomach is knotted. Five years is nothing for what he's done."

At the hearing, Dawn Pritchard, prosecuting, said the two burglaries Fisher was charged with took place on the morning of February 1.

He had broken into the properties in Independent Hill and Grange Street, in Alfreton, by smashing rear patio doors. He stole about £600 of clothes, a lap-top computer and a mobile phone from the first house.

The second break-in was at the home of Mark Shelton, where Fisher escaped with jewellery, money and a child's money box.

He was caught on camera with stolen goods by police and was arrested the next day.

Miss Pritchard said Fisher voluntarily admitted the other offences.

"He showed remorse for his actions and attempted to assist recovery of property and return it to victims. People were pleased to see items returned."

In mitigation, Anita Goodman said Fisher had struggled with drug use for years and had found it hard to stop despite the support of agencies.

Judge John Wait told Fisher: "You have a very lengthy record of offending. It's been a way of life for you.

"You must have been responsible for a large proportion of the burglaries in the Alfreton area that have taken place over the years."

He said the sentence was reduced from nine to five years because Fisher had pleaded guilty and admitted other crimes.

After the hearing, DS Sandra Gibbs, of A Division's volume crime team, said Fisher had also broken into properties in the High Peak and Chesterfield areas.

She said: "We are pleased that Fisher is now off the streets and not committing crime.

"But, more than that, we have more than 170 victims who now know that their crime has been traced and someone has been prosecuted for it.

"We hope this in itself brings some sort of peace of mind. Fisher is probably amongst the most prolific offenders that we have dealt with in A Division."