A burglar who smashed his way into a service station, stealing thousands of pounds and leaving a trail of destruction, has written a letter to the owner to apologise for his actions.
Gary Patterson used a crowbar to gain entry to the premises before emptying the tills in the garage's post office counter and even stealing a charity box.
The cost of the damage caused during the smash and grab was around £6,000.
Sending Patterson to prison, a judge said he had offended "consistently and persistently" since his youth.
Swansea Crown Court heard that shortly after 1am on March 24 the burglar alarm at the Bryn Gelli Service Station in Llwynhendy, Llanelli, sounded.
Ieuan Rees, prosecuting, said when police arrived at the Murco garage they found "substantial damage" to an outer door while inside they found the tills in the post office part of the business had been emptied.
The court heard in total Patterson got away with £2,000 from the post office, £200 from the garage tills, and a charity box which had been on the counter.
Mr Rees said CCTV at the garage was checked and a suspect was identified. When Patterson was arrested three days later he claimed it was a case of mistaken identity. When searched he was found to be in possession of a small amount of herbal cannabis.
The 33-year-old subsequently gave a "no comment" interview to officers.
In a victim statement, parts of which were read to the court, the owner of the garage, Vijay Jaganathan, said not only had there been a financial impact from the burglary but the raid had also meant a disruption in service to his customers who relied on the business.
Patterson, of no fixed abode, admitted non-dwelling burglary and possession of a Class B drug. The court heard he has previous convictions for 81 offences including for burglaries and the possession of drugs.
Kate Williams, for Patterson, said her client maintained he had not taken the crowbar with him to the garage but had found it nearby and decided to use it.
She said the defendant's life had "spiralled out of control" following the ending of a relationship and he had found himself homeless and and taking illicit drugs.
The advocate said Patterson had written a letter to the garage owner apologising for his actions which he had sent to her office, requesting it be forwarded to the victim.
Judge Keith Thomas told the defendant he had a "considerable record of offending, especially dishonesty", which "began when you were a youth and continue consistently and persistently" to the present day.
Patterson was jailed for two years.
