"OUR far-reaching and complex investigation involving teams across Essex Police ensured this prolific teenage burglar was brought before the courts.

"His actions caused great distress to his many victims, but meticulous detective and forensic work meant he had no option but to admit his guilt."

Detective Inspector Stuart Mitchell, from Essex Police's Criminal Investigation Department, spoke after an 18-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced after admitting six burglaries, five attempted burglaries and a number of driving offences.

He also asked for 47 other offences to be taken into consideration, when he was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Wednesday 21 May.

Between August and September last year, as a 17-year-old, he persistently broke into people's homes across Basildon, Brentwood, Harlow and into East London, with a clear aim of taking the victim's car keys and then stealing their car.

On Thursday, 12 September, he was arrested and later questioned by detectives in connection with a series of burglaries and attempted break-ins which happened in the early hours of 25 August in Basildon.

He refused to answer questions during interview and said he was not involved in the offences.

However further investigations by Essex Police and officers from the Met lead to 14 charges being secured.

Judge Griffiths sentenced the Basildon teenager to 20 months imprisonment in the form of a Detention and Training Order.

Part of the sentence will include a period of supervision in the community, designed to address the underlying issues of the defendant's offending through education and training.

He also received four-month sentences, to run concurrently, for dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking.

Detective Constable Amy Day, who led the investigation, said: "This offender broke into people's homes, often at night, and had a total disregard for the impact his actions would have on his victims.

"Thankfully our investigations, supported by our crime scene colleagues, ensures he will now face the consequences of his actions.

"We know he didn't commit these offences on his own and other lines of enquiries have been progressed. 

"Combating burglary is a key priority for us and we understand what a deeply invasive crime it is.

"Not only are we working hard to catch those responsible for these types of crimes, but we are working with partners to ensure our communities have access to the latest crime prevention advice.

"This approach is working, home burglary is down by 25 per cent. That's 941 fewer offences. We are committed to continuing to drive down burglaries and want to make it very clear to anyone who thinks they can carry out burglaries in Essex to think again. We will find you and put you before the courts."