A burglar who tried to flee to Canada after going on a seven-county burglary spree has been jailed.

Leonardo Velasquez-Valencia, 37, tried to evade police after committing 10 burglaries in Kent, Essex, London, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Wiltshire.

Kent Police received a report of a burglary at a property in Sevenoaks just before 7.30pm on February 8 this year.

The suspect left the scene on foot before police arrived with items including jewellery, cash, a laptop and a handbag.

Velasquez-Valencia was identified as a suspect after an examination of the property in Sevenoaks found his DNA.

Leonardo Velasquez-Valencia, 37, tried to evade police after committing 10 burglaries

After working with other forces, police found he was responsible for a series of burglaries between February 1 and March 29.

Velasquez-Valencia fled to Canada on May 25, but was denied entry because he had $6,700 Canadian and US dollars on his person and no valid reason to carry such a large amount of cash.

He was arrested and detained on his return to the UK at Heathrow Airport in connection with the Sevenoaks burglary and a number of others.

Velasquez-Valencia pleaded guilty on August 21 at Maidstone Crown Court in Kent.

He was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison at a sentencing hearing at the same court on Thursday.

He tried to flee to Canada after going on a seven-county burglary spree but has now been jailed. Pictured is Heathrow Airport

Investigating officer Detective Constable Joshua Littley said after sentencing: “Velasquez-Valencia committed murder for his own financial gain with little regard for the impact on his victims.

“He despicably stole heirlooms, sentimental jewelery and caused substantial damage to a number of properties.

“His actions not only left his victims feeling unsafe in their own homes, but also grieving the loss of items that had considerable meaning to them.

“I hope the offender’s lengthy prison sentence provides some comfort to those he wronged and serves as yet another reminder to perpetrators and would-be criminals that crime does not pay.”