A mechanic from Erith has been jailed for three-and-a-half years for conspiring to commit burglaries in Longfield and Paddock Wood.

Stephen Baker, of Springfield Road, used a Vauxhall Astra he was meant to be fixing to commit his crimes.

The 27-year-old took the vehicle back home but did not return it to the garage where he worked.

Instead it was found by police at around 3.30am on October 31 last year at an address in St Mary’s Road, Swanley, after a member of the public reported people acting suspiciously while unloading items from a car.

Clothing was found which appeared to match that worn by burglars who had stolen £7,000 worth of cigarettes from the Co-op store in Station Road, Longfield, at 3am that same night.

Also recovered were an Audi S4 and a laptop stolen from an address in Paddock Wood.

On November 25 this year Baker pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiracy to commit burglary and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court.

DC James Crouch of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: "Burglary remains one of Kent Police’s top priorities, so we’re delighted to see another offender behind bars."