A man who went on a two-month crime spree has been jailed for almost four years.

Matthew Goodwin admitted a catalogue of offences, including 27 thefts from motor vehicles.

Having been caught following a police chase, the 27-year-old was sentenced to three years and ten months at Maidstone Crown Court.

Goodwin, of no fixed address, was arrested after an operation by detectives investigating a series of linked crimes that began in June 2014.

On June 28, officers examined a Ford Focus left abandoned in Gillingham.

In it they found a number of stolen items - including a Nikon camera stolen from a car parked overnight in Istead Rise on 26 June.

"Goodwin was a one-man crime wave across three districts and caused an enormous amount of distress to his victims." - DC Bill Looker

Goodwin had taken photographs of himself on the camera.

CCTV revealed he had been driving a white Citroen vehicle on 12 June, which was stolen from Gillingham several days earlier and found abandoned on July 2.

After he had been identified, he was linked to a further spate of thefts from motor vehicles across Gravesham and Dartford.

Plans were put in place to arrest Goodwin, but his friends and family confirmed he was hiding from police.

On July 29 detectives spotted Goodwin in Maidstone Road, driving a Jaguar which had been stolen from Watts Road, Rochester.

During a police chase the Jaguar collided with a tree. Goodwin leapt out and ran, but was caught by officers and arrested.

A haul of stolen property was recovered inside that vehicle as well.

In total, Goodwin pleaded guilty to 27 thefts from motor vehicles, one count of aggravated vehicle taking, driving without insurance and driving while disqualified.

DC Bill Looker, said: "Goodwin was a one-man crime wave across three districts and caused an enormous amount of distress to his victims.

"He broke into their vehicles and stole personal items that held sentimental value.

"On several occasions he made off from police and in doing so endangered the lives of the public.

"We put every possible plan in place to apprehend him. When he was spotted in the stolen Jaguar, our officers flooded the area and we took him into custody."