Two drug addicts have been jailed for a crime spree in Watford.

Patrick Nolan, 32, and Daniel Gold, 33, were told by a judge that there was no alternative for them other than a prison sentence.

Prosecutor Neil King told Luton Crown Court that the offences were committed between 11 December and 14 December, which was shortly after Nolan had been released from prison.

Nolan had broken glass to forced his way into White Mint, a shop in Berkhamsted High Street. The keys from the till were taken, but nothing else was stolen. He was identified by the police from CCTV.

Gold had broken into a house in Park Avenue, Watford at night by forcing the kitchen door handle. He took car keys, a mobile phone and a bread knife.

The bread knife was found embedded in the ground outside a neighbouring house, where he stole two laptops, a passport and a child's rucksack.

A car taken from the first house was used in an attempted ram raid by both men at a jeweller's in Lower Kings Road, Berkhamsted. Nothing was stolen, but £15,000 worth of damage was caused.

At 5am, Nolan broke into the British Legion in Berkhamsted and stole alcohol. Again, said Mr King, he was identified by CCTV.

An hour and a quarter later, Nolan broke into a garage in Lanrick Copse, Berkhamsted and stole cans of tonic water. He left when he was disturbed by the householder.

The police were called and found him hiding in nearby Brackenhill with glass in his shoes. As he was arrested, he kicked out and spat in a woman police officer's face.

Nolan, from Two Water Roads, Hemel, appeared from Bedford prison to be sentenced for five burglaries and assaulting a PC. He had 32 convictions for 76 offences. He had been released from his last sentence in December.

Gold, of no fixed address, also appeared on the video link from the prison to be sentenced for three burglaries. He has 32 convictions for 76 offences.

Oliver Doherty, defending Nolan, said: "He is a 32-year-old with an appalling record. He is an addict and until he manages to deal with it, offences are gong to be committed."

He said that in April this year, while in Bedford jail, he married his girlfriend. He asked the judge to consider putting him on a drug rehabilitation requirement.

Defending Gold, Alex Matthews said: "He is a drug addict as well. He has been addicted since he was 16. He said he was off his head in December last year."

But she said he had been clean of drugs for the past two months in prison and had shown a motivation to kick the habit.

Recorder Icah Peart QC said: "The offences cross the custody threshold by some margin. The issue is how long should the sentence be?"

He jailed Nolan for three years and six months and Gold for two years and six months.