David Bryce denied the charges

The house was burgled while Hall was appearing as Mrs Robinson in the stage version of The Graduate in London's West End, and while her two-year-old son and nanny slept.

Her jewellery, a computer and candlesticks were stolen.

One day later a candlestick with Bryce's fingerprints was found in a shopping bag hidden in bushes near the house.

'Unpleasant crime'

At Kingston Crown Court on Friday, Recorder Humfrey Malins, told Bryce: "It was a domestic burglary committed at night when the house was occupied, and this sort of burglary can result in people being frightened, upset and distressed on going back to their home.

"It's a very nasty and unpleasant crime."

The judge told Bryce that he was being jailed principally because the offence was "distressing to the whole of society", not because of his criminal record.

Bryce claimed he had found the bag while out walking his dog.

He had previously been convicted of 44 offences, dating back to 1980, including handling, theft and assault.

Jenni Dempster, defending, said that Bryce maintained his innocence and posed no risk to society.