A hapless burglar has been jailed for more than seven years and told by a judge: "Give up your life of crime...you aren't very good at it."

Shaquille Campbell committed his first offence aged 12 and he has spent half of his life locked up, Maidstone Crown Court was told.

Within months of his last prison sentence for burglary, the 26-year-old dad-of-three was raiding properties and stealing expensive cars, including a £38,000 BMW and a £26,000 Porsche Macan.

They were carried out with an unknown accomplice last year but it was Campbell who was later caught at the wheel of the BMW.

Because he has previous convictions for burglary, he was liable for an extended sentence as a "three-striker", and in November 2020 had received a three-year sentence.

But the Judge, Recorder Michael Turner, told him that they had been planned crimes where he had targeted his victims.

Jailing him for a total of 92 months, he said: "From the age of 12 you started on a life of crime.

"You have been a criminal for more than half of your life.

"It has been said that you felt bad for what you did...but it didn't stop you. You need to turn your face away from a life of crime because you are not very good at it."

Campbell, who admitted charges of robbery, burglary and dangerous driving, was also banned from driving for 18 months after he is released from jail.

Prosecutor Paul Valder told how in October last year Campbell, dressed in black and with a face covering, broke into a house in Arlington Road, Richmond in London, alerting the owners who confronted him.

After pushing a female victim aside as she was calling police, he told her husband "Stay calm...don't move" and demanded the keys to their BMW.

He then left in the car after stealing items of clothing which she had knitted for Ukrainian babies and which were later found in the stolen vehicle, the court heard.

A month earlier, Campbell had also burgled a house in Cheam, South London, and stole keys to a Porsche which was later found containing his DNA.

He also stole a TV, a Dyson vacuum cleaner, a soundbar, a PlayStation and headphones from a house in Rickmansworth, North London, in the same month.

Campbell later sold some of the items for cash but detectives were able to find a receipt for the property at his home in Hertford Road, in North London.

Mr Valder said the spate came to an end when he broke into a house in Breething Road, Dunton Green, Sevenoaks, after a mother had left to take her children to school.

Campbell was spotted running down the road carrying a laundry basket after he had smashed patio doors.

The victim later told police how clothing was strewn everywhere "so much so she wasn't able to see the floor".

Mattresses had also been turned over and designer clothing and handbags stolen.

The court heard how he was seen driving in the stolen BMW, with false number plates, and police followed the car.

"He then started to drive at excess speed during a heavy downpour, at 50mph in a 30 zone and then at 60mph on a dual carriageway where the car aqua planed and he lost control, veering into oncoming traffic and colliding with one of the vehicles," said Mr Valder.

Fiona Clegg, defending, said Campbell was now sorry for his thieving "which he knows is inexcusable".

"He wishes to apologise for this spate of offending," she added.

Investigating officer, DC Celia King, said: "Campbell is a prolific criminal who stole high-value cars and designer clothing during burglaries, turning violent when disturbed by some of his victims.

"His driving when seeking to evade arrest put other road users at considerable risk of harm and he deserves to be in jail."