David Reed, whose "life has been blighted by decades of drug addiction", got into Wymondham Baptist Church after breaking a window at the Queen Street building, which opened for worship in 1910.

Wymondham Methodist Church (Image: Google)

Norwich Crown Court heard once inside, the 42-year-old got into a safe and stole a total of £381.97 from inside.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

The court heard from prosecutor Matthew Edwards that Reed left traces of his blood behind him at the scene following the burglary on October 16 2024.

Reed had initially claimed this was as a result of him taking drugs at the church.

The defendant, of no fixed abode, appeared at court for sentencing on Wednesday having previously admitted burglary.

The defendant, who has 48 previous convictions for 93 offences, also admitted an offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against a former partner in Great Yarmouth in August 2025 when both he and her had been taking crack cocaine.

David Reed (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

In addition Reed also admitted a breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) in that he had been at a Norwich City Council property at Finkelgate in October 2025.

It was despite him being banned from being at council properties.

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Jailing Reed for two years and 12 weeks, Judge Andrew Shaw said: "Churches are in my view vulnerable".

Judge Andrew Shaw (Image: Newsquest)

He said the theft of over £300 from a church - which are often open to "helping people whenever they can" - represented a "significant degree of loss".

Judge Shaw said Reed, who had a long-time addiction to class A drugs, "was not the first person whose life appears to have been utterly ruined by controlled drugs". 

John Morgans, mitigating, said Reed was "genuinely remorseful".

He said Reed's life had been "blighted by decades of drug addiction" but since being taken into custody on remand now finds himself "free of drugs".

Mr Morgans said Reed "feels so much better away from drugs" and wanted to remain drug free.

Reed has also been made the subject of a restraining order, banning him from contacting his former partner directly or indirectly for the next five years.

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