A burglar who smashed his way out of a takeaway restaurant and assaulted a Policewoman has been jailed for four years.

Brian Rogers, 45, of North Terrace, Pembroke, had been a persistent criminal for a number of years, Supreme Court heard at his sentencing yesterday.

Last month, he was found guilty of breaking into Island Fried Chicken, Court Street, with intent to commit a felony in the early hours of January 6 last year.

He was also convicted of assaulting P.c. Veronica Outerbridge — who chased him from the scene — wilfully damaging the restaurant’s cash register and glass door, and being found armed with a crowbar at night with intent to steal.

Yesterday, prosecutor Graveney Bannister told Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves that Rogers has a history of committing violence and criminal damage. Mr. Bannister said over the past seven years Rogers has been convicted of breaking and entering a store, damaging a window belonging to Bermuda Hospitals Board, damaging a taxi, violence against a Police officer, stealing a car and breaking and entering a house.

“He seems to commit the same offences over and over,” said Mr. Bannister.

Last month’s three-day trial heard Rogers had been identified by Police officers as he fled the takeaway after smashing through glass at the front of the shop.

P.c. Outerbridge said she had chased him to a nearby church and grabbed his trousers as he tried to scale a wall. She said he kicked out in a bid to get away, causing a sprain to her right wrist.

Rogers was discovered soon afterwards hiding under a boat in the car park of Jamaican Grill, breathing heavily and sweating profusely.

He had denied all charges and claimed it was a case of mistaken identity. Summarising the case yesterday, Mr. Bannister said: “This was just a calculated act of breaking in and damaging property and then hurting a Police officer.”

Rick Woolridge, defending Rogers, described the officer’s injury as “not the most serious wound”.

Asked to comment, Rogers said: “I would just like to say I maintain my innocence.”

Passing sentence, Mr. Justice Greaves said: “He appears to be a man who is never prepared to accept he’s wrong.

“Given the time he continues to spend in prison ... it’s not likely that he is ever going to learn the lesson.”

For breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony, Rogers was jailed for four years; for wilful damage to property, two and a half years; for being found with the crowbar, four years; and for assaulting P.c. Outerbridge, two and a half years.