A man who committed three burglaries in Maidstone within nine days has been sent to prison.

Fingerprints were the downfall of 22-year-old John Vidler, and they linked him to each of the crime scenes in Stilebridge Lane in Marden, Gravelly Bottom Road in Kingswood and Lenham Road in Kingswood.

Valuables such as jewellery and cash were taken between September 21 and September 30. At two of the properties Vidler had gained entry by smashing windows.

But detectives identified him from CCTV footage from the Kingswood area, and he was arrested on October 1.

Vidler, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to burglary and was sentenced to 22 months in prison at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday, January 3.

Detective Constable Neil Buckle from Kent Police said: "Having identified Vidler from CCTV, it was simply a case of locating him and putting the offences to him in interview.

"He claimed to have committed his crimes under duress but that is no excuse and offers no comfort to the victims.

"Vidler will now have to serve his prison sentence, and we encourage homeowners to take serial numbers of valuable electrical items, and to photograph jewellery so we can try and reunite owners with property that we recover."