A SERIAL burglar stole £7,000 of computer server equipment, causing havoc for a Basildon business.

Aron Reid, 30, stole the property from Raydan Mechanical Services’ premises in Paycocke Road, in August 2012.

Caroline Moonan, prosecuting, told the court the break-in had cost the company between £10,000 and £12,000 because of its effect on its business.

She said: “It took them six weeks to get up and running again, because they couldn’t use e-mail and everything was more labour intensive.

“The staff had to work longer hours to catch up the backlog.”

Police matched fingerprints found in the offices with Reid ‘s when he was questioned about another burglary, the court heard.

Reid, of Kiln Shaw, Langdon Hills, broke into the offices along with a cousin, getting in through a window before ransacking the building.

When interviewed, Reid initially denied any involvement, claiming he was in prison at the time of the break-in.

He later admitted the burglary when he appeared in court in July.

Back at Basildon Crown Court on Friday to be sentenced, Reid also admitted breaching a court order barring him from contacting his former partner, the mother of his children, aged six and three.

The court heard Reid disrupted a birthday party being held for Reid’s son at his ex-partner’s mother’s home on March 25, 2014.

He was shouting and swearing and demanding to see his children, Miss Moonan told the court.

Reid’s ex-partner and his children had been traumatised and frightened by the incident, she said.

At Friday’s hearing, the court heard Reid was now working full-time as a metal partitioner – his very first first proper job – and had a new partner, who was eight months pregnant.

It was also told he had a history of drug abuse and was still using cannabis.

Passing sentence for the two offences, Judge Christopher Morgan gave him a 15-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He told Reid: “It is clear you are in denial and seek to avoid responsibility and blame others.

“You ruined your son’s birthday party and did that by breaching a non-molestation order.

“You have an appalling record for disobedience and failing to perform community orders imposed in the past.

“You know you have an appalling record for burglary, both on commercial premises and dwellings.

“I’m giving you an opportunity to demonstrate you can change your lifestyle and attitudes.

“If you fail, you will go to prison.”