Two men – one with 13 previous convictions – have been jailed for a spate of burglaries where cars worth thousands were stolen from outside homes.

Matthew Nicholls, of Stagshaw Close, Maidstone, was sentenced to four years, and Luke Clements, from The Ridgeway, Harold Wood,Essex, to two years.

Nicholls, 25, had the previous convictions for 37 offences and was said to be a persistent burglar.

He pleaded guilty to six burglaries and Clements, 22, admitted three burglaries, one of handling, one of theft and possessing drugs.

Nicholls’ partner Stacey Fuller, 28, admitted one burglary and two handling charges. She was identified on CCTV selling £2,000 of jewellery taken in one of the burglaries for £330.

Fuller was sentenced to a 15-month jail term suspended for two years.

Prosecutor Allister Walker told Maidstone Crown Court a number of break-ins happened in March and April of 2013.

They included homes in Heather Drive, St Philips Avenue and Hillary Road, Maidstone, Newbury Avenue, Allington, Heathfield Road and Boxley Road, Penenden Heath, and Oak Lane, Sevenoaks.

Property was stolen and damage caused as the pair searched through homes for valuables.

A watch collection worth up to £25,000 was stolen from the house in Oak Lane, Sevenoaks.

A Mini One convertible worth £15,000 was taken from outside a house in St Philips Avenue, Maidstone.

Numberplates were stolen from another car and put on the Mini. A £10,000 Golf GTI a family in Boxley Road was planning to sell also went missing.

The stolen Mini was picked up by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras at the Dartford Crossing.

Nicholls committed a burglary in Essex, stealing £500 of property and causing £1,500 worth of damage.

Judge Julian Smith said Fuller was working hard to support her child and had stayed away from further offending. “I have been persuaded that I can reduce the term in your case,” he added.

DC Andrew Julier from Kent Police, said: "Nicholls and Clements either worked together or on their own, targeting empty homes in order to steal anything they could later sell.

"They thought they were untouchable and had no regard whatsoever for their victims, for whom these crimes can often have a devastating impact.

"It has been a long and complicated process to ensure justice has been served but thankfully now both of these men are behind bars and I hope this provides some comfort to those affected by their crimes."