A mean burglar has been jailed for breaking into a family home and stealing money from children's piggy banks.
Thomas Ransom also looted cash which a seven-year-old girl had collected for charity through a sponsored swim and a laptop which contained vital business records for a chain of restaurants.
He is a serial burglar who has already raided more than 15 homes and was stealing to pay off drug debts, Exeter Crown Court was told.
He was so disgusted by his own behaviour he described himself as scum when interviewed by police.
Ransom, aged 20, of Dartmouth Road, Paignton, admitted burglary and was jailed for 32 months by Judge Phillip Wassall.
He told him: "This was the residence of a family with young children and the burglary has had a considerable impact on their business and two of the children.
"One of the laptops contained substantial records for the businesses which cannot be recreated. You are scum or a person who does not deserve help, but these are serious offences."
Mr Gordon Richings, prosecuting, said parents Sally and Andrew Dover were asleep at home with their children and a grandparent when Ransom broke into their home in Treesdale Road in Paignton in April.
He took two laptops, an iPad, two piggy banks, and cash and caused enormous inconvenience to the couple, who run five restaurant businesses.
The money boxes belonged to two of their three children and Ransom also stole cash collected by their daughter from a sponsored swim. In all, he escaped with £460 cash but was traced by fingerprints and admitted the raid.
He told police he considered himself to be scum and was ashamed of his actions.
Mr Kevin Hopper, defending, said Ransom has shown genuine remorse but was driven to crime by a background in care and the use of drugs which led to him owing money to dealers. He now hopes to reform himself in jail.
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