A CAREER criminal has been jailed for six years after being found guilty of three burglaries in a Kent town.

Dennis Covington, of Dundee Road, South Norwood, ransacked Bromley homes and stole precious jewellery in raids earlier this year.

The 36-year-old - who has 15 previous convictions for burglary - had denied the offences throughout his trial, despite his DNA being found at all three properties.

Jobless Covington was disturbed by the owners of a property in Pickhurst Park, Bromley, who returned to find their bedroom turned upside down at 11am on February 15.

A large amount of jewellery - much with sentimental value - had been taken and electrical equipped piled up by the open patio doors.

Two days later, the occupants of a property in Tylney Road, Bromley, returned home at 7pm to hear noises from the kitchen.

They spotted someone running down the garden and found a screwdriver by the open window.

Jewellery was also stolen from a house in Goddard Road, Beckenham, when it was raided between April 6 and 9. Another screwdriver was found at the scene.

Det Con Andy Innes from Bromley police burglary squad said: "We are pleased with the significant prison sentence handed down to Covington, who as a career is a prolific and habitual burglar.

"It will hopefully serve as a warning to others. This type of offence will always attract the utmost priority in our policing efforts."

Covington was unanimously found guilty of the three burglaries at Croydon Crown Court.

He was sentenced to six years for the first offence and four years for each of the others, but will serve only six because they will run at the same time.