A man who stole Christmas presents from homes across East Anglia has been jailed after a spate of break-ins in 2021 and 2022. 

Heath Vosper, 31 and from Crystal Palace Park Road in London, has been sentenced to four years and three months in prison.

On December 20, 2021, Essex Police was called to a home in Wrabness after the occupants, who had been woken by the sound of their home alarm, had discovered that a number of presents that were under the Christmas tree in the dining room had been stolen. 

A door had also been damaged, which was repaired for a three-figure sum.

Days later, on December 22, more calls were made to the police from residents in Artillery Drive and Stour Close in Harwich, after they received alerts from their Ring doorbells.

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A hooded individual had been filmed trying front door handles to properties and cars while a lookout on an e-scooter kept watch.

The reports included an incident where entry was forced to a car, with cash, a cable and a sat nav device stolen.

A further burglary took place at a home in Goodlake Close in Dovercourt, where the suspects stole a large bag containing wrapped Christmas presents and a number of other items including jewellery.

On Friday, December 31, an address linked to Vosper in Harwich was searched by the police, who found a number of the stolen items. 

Vosper was then seen on January 10, 2022 getting out of a vehicle near the scene of a burglary in Hopton near Great Yarmouth.

Police arrested him on January 12, 2022 and, after further searches of addresses linked to Vosper, found lots of the missing items from the Norfolk robbery. 

Vosper was found guilty of eight counts of attempted burglary and two counts of burglary at Chelmsford Crown Court.

DC Darren Buckingham, of Tendring CID, said: "Vosper is a prolific and committed burglar, who caused a significant level of worry and fear in the Harwich area as he targeted homes just before Christmas.

"A common thread running through the accounts of victims was the anxiety they are left to deal with as a result of this criminal’s actions.

"I hope this conviction and sentence will give them some degree of comfort."

His accomplice, Shauna Reynolds, 37, of Pound Farm Drive in Harwich, was also arrested and later charged with two counts of burglary, relating to the Essex and Norfolk offences.

She was convicted of both following the trial and sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.