Instead of starting a degree course in electrical engineering at Bangor university Andrew Smythe will be in a prison cell after pleading guilty to a burglary which badly hit a woman’s business in the city.

The 52-year-old of Greenwood Avenue, Bangor, was jailed for 21 months at Caernarfon crown court yesterday after being one of a group of men taking part in the night time burglary at a clinic and beauty salon.

Brett Williamson, prosecuting, said the owner, a single mother, stated that she had lost £23,000 because of the burglary.

An image had shown the defendant climbing up steps behind the premises to move a CCTV camera in a bid to obscure the break-in.

As many as four others were believed to have taken part, although Smythe did not enter the building.

None of the missing property had been recovered. Smythe claimed to police that a Darren Price, whom he owed £10, had said the debt would be cleared if he helped with the burglary.

In an impact statement the owner said she had lost bookings, important items including two plasma TVs had gone and she endured panic attacks.

Mr Williamson said Smythe had many convictions for theft as well as for four burglaries.

Last February he got a conditional discharge for theft in which a battery had been stolen from a dumper truck on a building site at Port Penrhyn.

Dafydd Roberts, defending, said he’d taken an 18 months access course for the university and was extremely disappointed that the degree course opportunity might be missed.

In the past he had drug and alcohol problems but had abstained for the last two years.

Passing sentence Judge Rhys Rowlands told Smythe : “You have a pretty dreadful record of offending.”

Two valuable machines, a laptop and other possessions had been stolen and it had a profound affect on the victim.

Judge Rowlands declared: “There is a significant loss to a small business. I don’t accept you were exploited by anyone.”