HE is one of Hampshire’s most prolific burglars who used a child as an accomplice.

Michael Joseph Cooper is today being hunted by police after going on the run while he was due before the courts.

Cooper, 21, was convicted in his absence of conspiracy to commit burglary and receiving stolen items – but he can’t be sentenced until he is brought before the judge where he will receive a substantial jail term.

The Irishman, who is about 5ft 7in and has ginger hair and blue eyes, carried out a number of distraction burglaries – targeting the homes of the elderly and vulnerable.

In many cases he would be accompanied by a child who told the victims that his dog or his ball was in their back garden.

When the victims took the child to the garden to retrieve it, Cooper would enter the homes and take money and goods.