A burglar who was found with a haul of stolen items in his car just hours after breaking into a pair of houses in Four Marks has been jailed for five years.

Andrew Donoghue stole nearly £30,000 of jewellery from homes around Hampshire in Dorset in a “targeted and brazen” crime spree between April 24 and May 17.

Watches, gift vouchers, computer equipment and rare coins were among the items stolen by the 41-year-old of no fixed abode before his arrest on the latter date.

Donoghue was jailed on August 2 after pleading guilty to six counts of burglary and theft.

He also admitted to one count of burglary dwelling with intent to steal and a further count of attempted burglary when he appeared at Winchester Crown Court.

Four of the seven incidents took place on the day of his arrest as jewellery, gift vouchers and a mobile phone were among the items Donoghue stole from properties in Bernard Avenue and Blackberry Lane in Four Marks.

He also broke into homes in Bishop’s Waltham and Corhampton on the same day but his luck ran out in Romsey when he was pulled over by police with a haul of stolen items in his car.

DS Adam Knight of the Hampshire Police Northern Area Crime Team hailed the work of the officers and staff who gathered the evidence to secure his conviction.

He said: “Breaking into someone’s home and stealing their property is an intrusive crime which causes immeasurable distress to its victims, and we do not underestimate the impact that this has on those who are affected.

“I hope that this result helps the victims of these burglaries to move forward and we will continue doing everything we can to support those affected by burglary and bring offenders before the courts.”