A burglar has been jailed for breaking into four Southampton homes in one day in a whirlwind crime spree.

Darren Jones, 45, has been put behind bars for three years and nine months following the series of burglaries in Portswood on November 22 last year. 

A court heard how at around 3.50pm, Jones broke into a house on Sirdar Road by smashing a window in the front door. 

He stole a wallet containing bank cards and ID cards as well as Apple Airpods, two laptops, a backpack and jewellery worth £60. 

He then left the house through a bedroom window.

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Around an hour later, at 4.45pm, Jones broke into a house on Portswood Road while a woman who lived there was inside.

She was confronted by the terrifying sight of the intruder - but as she had caught him in the act, he left without taking anything. 

Some time between 12.40pm and 7pm, a house on Northcote Road was also broken into. 

A handbag, a jewellery box and a wallet were stolen from a bedroom. 

A second property on Northcote Road was broken into sometime between 8.30am and 7pm and a shovel was taken. 

Most of the items stolen from the Sirdar Road and Northcote Road addresses were found in the garden of the Portswood Road property. 

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A document was also found with the name Darren Jones. 

A bike lock left in Sirdar Road was forensically examined which revealed DNA links to Jones. 

Jones, of Richmond Gardens, Southampton, was arrested and later charged with three counts of burglary and one count of theft. 

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday, October 17. 

Police Staff Investigator Sarah Stewart, who led the investigation, said: “Breaking into someone’s home and stealing their property is an intrusive crime which causes immeasurable distress to its victims.

"We do not underestimate the impact that this has on those who are affected. 

“We work really hard to ensure that those who commit these crimes face the consequences of their actions and we are pleased with this sentence, which reflects the pattern of habitual theft that this series demonstrated. 

“I really do 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.

“We will not stop in our relentless pursuit of criminals so that their lives, not those of local people, are a misery.”