A prolific burglar who stole more than £25,000 worth of goods has been described as “determined and vindictive” by police.

Jeffrey McKeown, 32, was sentenced to 31 months in jail following a court hearing at Ipswich Crown Court on Friday, September 28.

McKeown, of Hillside Road East, Bungay, had stolen two cars, a BMW X5 and a black Range Rover after lifting their car keys.

He then caused £3,500 worth of damage when attempting to force open the doors to Aldi in Lowestoft on July 6 this year when attempting to steal a cash point from the store.

He later went on to admit eight other offences including three other burglaries, one at Dell Primary School in Lowestoft where a pool pump was stolen, another at a motorbike garage where a Honda Fireblade worth £11,150 was stolen, and finally the theft of a caravan from a compound in Halesworth.

Det. Con. Duncan Etchells from the Suffolk Police’s Operation Converter team, who interview offenders on their entire criminal history, said the conviction was of “great satisfaction”.

He said: “A total of £25,530 worth of goods was taken in the crime-spree conducted by McKeown and so to see him behind bars for the offences convicted is of great satisfaction.

“He is a determined and vindictive individual and by creating such a trail of destruction and damage he has caused his victims great distress.

“This sentence again proves to everyone that crime simply doesn’t pay. Hopefully, the sentence given in this case will provide some peace of mind to McKeown’s victims and also act as a deterrent to other would-be burglars and criminals.”

A spokesman for Suffolk Police said: “Operation Converter is an initiative aimed at encouraging offenders to admit their crimes.

“This has benefits for all – police are able to give victims some peace of mind that an offender has been caught for the burglary of their home or the theft of their property and the individual has the opportunity to clear their slate so they can have a fresh start when they are released from prison, without the possibility they will later be traced for a further offence.

“Offenders have to give sufficient detail for officers to be sure they have committed the crime and these offences are then ‘taken into consideration’ at sentencing. The judge will look at all the offences before determining the sentence”