A thief who broke into five homes in three towns in less than a week and stole jewellery of sentimental value has been jailed for 20 months.

Dano Casabi burgled property in Hawthorne Avenue, Bedford Avenue and Solomon Road, Gillingham, Bobbing Hill, Sittingbourne, and Cruden Road, Gravesend, between November 1 and 7 last year.

The 25-year-old Romanian, of Greenview Walk, Gillingham, admitted five charges of burglary and one of abstracting electricity. He also admitted breaching a conditional discharge.

Maidstone Crown Court heard plastic gloves used to commit the offences were found stuffed down his sofa.

An earlier hearing was told the father-of-two had previous convictions in Austria and Spain. There was a background of drink and drug issues.

Told that most of the stolen property had been returned, Judge Michael Carroll said: “That was not his intention.”

"Casabi preyed repeatedly on people’s sense of privacy and security..." - PC Richard Owen

The crime spree, he said, involved serious domestic burglaries, one of which was committed at night.

None of the occupants were at home at the time.

An engagement ring given to one victim 50 years ago by her late partner was among the jewellery stolen.

“Other victims talk about gifts from long deceased grandmothers given to them when a child,” said Judge Carroll.

“This is the kind of human cost that burglary offences metes out to victims. You were the perpetrator. I am absolutely satisfied this involves greater harm.

“There was a degree of planning. You went equipped with plastic gloves and were part of a group.”

The judge added Casabi’s only mitigation was his guilty pleas.

After sentencing, investigating officer, PC Richard Owen, said: “Casabi is a calculating and devious individual who preyed repeatedly on people’s sense of privacy and security.

“He belongs in prison.

“Kent Police has dedicated units of detectives working tirelessly to tackle burglary and I’d ask anybody with any information or concerns about suspicious behaviour to report them to us on 101 so we can act on it.”