A burglar who broke into three homes in just six days has been jailed after police found his DNA on a discarded cigarette butt and pebble he used to smash a window.

Peter Harlow was responsible for a spate of raids between August 4 and 10, which he carried out to fund a drug habit.

The 30-year-old's crime spree came to a halt after his fingerprints were found on windows of a house burgled in Church Street, Shoreham.

His DNA was then matched to a pebble used to smash a window of a property in Foxhole Lane, Matfield. Tests showed his DNA was also on a discarded cigarette retrieved from outside an address in Station Road, Eynsford.

Officers also recovered jewellery stolen from the home in Eynsford, after it was found underneath a seat on a platform at the local train station. Harlow, formerly of Nevill Street, Tunbridge Wells, was arrested and charged with three burglary offences.

He pleaded guilty to them all and five other burglary offences were taken into consideration.

On Monday Harlow was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court to four years in prison.

Detective Sergeant Richard O’Toole said: "Peter Harlow is a career criminal and prolific thief and burglar.

"His motivation for committing these crimes was to feed a crack cocaine habit, costing him £600 a day.

"Prison is clearly the best place for Harlow, the likes of whom think they can get away with making other people’s lives a misery.

"His actions have had a profound impact on his victims and we know all too well just how devastating burglaries can be, for anyone whose home is broken into.

"Combatting burglary remains a high priority for Kent Police and I’d like to reassure residents we have teams of detectives dedicated to fighting, preventing and solving burglary throughout the county. As this case has shown we will do all in our power to bring criminals to justice."