A PROLIFIC burglar has been locked up for two years after admitting breaking in to scores of Basildon homes.

Daniel Pritchard, 23, admitted breaking in to 55 homes during a five-year crime spree, when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court.

Pritchard, of Mapleford Sweep, Basildon, even broke in to one family’s home on Christmas Day in 2010.

The court heard Pritchard is currently serving a three-year sentence in Chelmsford Prison for a different set of burglaries .

While in prison, he was linked to a burglary on Christmas Day, 2010, December 27, 2010, and one in Oldwyk, Vange, onMay 11 2013, where £8,829 of jewellery and electrical goods were taken.

He contacted detectives at Essex Police to tell them he wanted to own up to a further 52 unsolved crimes committed between 2007 and 2013.

Judge Graham sentenced him to two years in prison for the offences.

He said he was able to take one year off the minimum sentence because Pritchard had owned up to the offences.

Sentencing Pritchard, Judge Graham said: “You committed house burglaries by forcing windows using a tool.

“After you were sentenced for a different set of burglaries in November, you approached the police to make further admissions.

“Under normal circumstances, you would attract a minimum three-year sentence, however the unusual circumstances of this case mean I can descend from this.

“Without your cooperation with the police, many of these crimes would have remained unsolved and property unrecovered.

“I accept the steps you have taken to wipe the slate clean.”