A MAN has been jailed for more than seven years after admitting his role in a string of burglaries.

Stevie John White, 37, of Fairhead Road North, in Colchester, admitted being involved in the raids which happened over three months last year.

He was sentenced to seven and a half years in jail at Luton Crown Court on Wednesday.

White was charged with burglary dwelling with violence, after two people in the property in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, were assaulted following an incident on October 30, last year.

Watches and jewellery were stolen from a property.

After he was arrested, charged and remanded to prison, specialist officers from Suffolk Constabulary’s Operation Converter visited White and through detailed investigations and interviews White made additional voluntary admissions to a total of seven burglaries.

He agreed to have these taken into consideration by the court.

The first two took place on August 6.

One in Hundon near Sudbury saw jewellery and photographic equipment stolen, while another took place in Great Waldringfield where guitars, a Macbook, jewellery, cash and a Nissan Micra were stolen.

Four others took place on October 19 in Sapiston where jewellery was stolen, another at a property in West Stow where jewellery and cash were taken, one in Sproughton where an air rifle, jewellery and drinks were stolen and an attempted burglary at Depden where an attempt was made to force the patio doors of the property before being disturbed by the resident.

A seventh incident also took place on August 12 in Cavenham where an antique mantel clock, jewellery and silver-wear and a candelabra were amongst the items stolen in the burglary.

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DC Barry Simpson of Op Converter said: "Attempts were made to recover stolen property, although this proved in vain, but despite this the overall outcome freed up detectives to then concentrate on other such offences which sadly occur all too often.

"This saved an enormous amount of time, effort and expensive forensic submissions as well as allowing White to hopefully rehabilitate himself after he’s served the prison sentence he has received for these offences.”

Operation Converter is an initiative aimed at encouraging offenders to admit their crimes.

Offenders have to give sufficient detail for officers to be sure they have committed the crime and these offences are then ‘taken into consideration’ at sentencing.