A prolific burglar who committed offences across the south east, including targeting homes in Gravesend, has been jailed for six years.

Adam Yaroo, 28, previously from Sidcup, escaped from HMP Sudbury in Derbyshire on June 23 and was arrested in the Clapham area of London on September 17.

On July 12 he travelled to Kent and committed two offences in Gravesend.

He was seen standing in the back garden of a property in Hillside Drive with an item hidden up his sleeve.

A door was later found with tool marks on it and the glass had been smashed. Yaroo pleaded guilty to attempted burglary.

The same day he smashed a glass door to gain entry to a property in Rochester Road, but left empty-handed. Yaroo pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal.

Yaroo also committed offences in Surrey, Oxfordshire, London and Derbyshire. In total, he pleaded guilty to four charges of burglary and two of attempted burglary. He also asked for a further 36 offences, which occurred between January 1, 2012 and September 13 this year, to be taken into consideration.

Detective Constable Robin Hemsley, of Kent Police, said: "Yaroo is a prolific offender who committed crimes across the south east. He was an absconder when he targeted two homes in Gravesend and investigations found he had bought a screwdriver and glass hammer prior to committing the two Kent offences.

"I am pleased Yaroo's crime spree was disrupted and he now faces six years behind bars."

Yaroo was sentenced at Guildford Crown Court.