A convicted burglar from Newtown will have to spend more time in jail after an IT expert tipped off police about a suspected stolen laptop that had been handed to him to get fixed.

Michael Simmons, aged 34, refused to tell police where or who he got the laptop from otherwise it "would get him in the s***".

Simmons, who was given a 32-month prison sentence in August last year for burglary and theft at the home of a retired Newtown resident, was told he must serve an extra two weeks after pleading guilty to handling stolen goods.

Prosecutor Helen Tench told Welshpool Magistrates' Court that on February 17 last year, Newtown IT Solutions owner Ben Littley contacted police after he suspected the laptop was stolen when checks were made and found the device had a profile in a woman's name.

During an interview with police officers, Simmons said a friend offered him the laptop in exchange for £60 of cocaine.

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Mrs Tench said: "But he wouldn't reveal who that was because he 'would get him in the s***'"

Simmons claimed that if the police went after the seller, then it would be known that he told them.

Robert Hanratty, acting on behalf of Simmons, said: "Clearly, he's turned a blind eye a bit more. He must have known it was a stolen item. There was no actual loss.

"It is a further dent in a battered reputation. He's doing everything required of him in prison."

Chair of the magistrates' bench Stephen Pembroke said: "Our hands are very tied because you are in Berwyn for your sentence which was given some time ago."

Simmons, formerly of Dinas, Treowen and now a resident of HMP Berwyn, Wrexham, was told he must also pay a £154 victim surcharge when he comes out of prison.