A MAN who burgled three flats in Bournemouth has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Sean Alexander Lewis, aged 50, of Owls Road, Bournemouth, was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court.

He was handed a three year jail term for the burglaries, and 18 months to run consecutively for breaching a community order which had been imposed, last August, for similar burglary offences.

On January 3, this year, around 12.55pm, a couple were inside their Florence Road flat when they heard a bang come from the front door, the court heard.

The male occupant saw the front door had been forced open and a man was standing in the hallway. They screamed at him then the man ran off.

When police arrived they discovered two other flats had also been broken into.

Due to his description, officers visited Lewis' home where he was spotted sweating profusely before running into his flat.

He was arrested and items stolen that day, as well as items suspected to have been stolen during other burglaries, were recovered.

Lewis was interviewed and admitted the offences.

Detective Constable Chris Raspini, of Dorset Police’s Priority Crime Team, said: “I would like to praise the officers who attended the scene and quickly identified Lewis as being the suspect. It was due to this quick-time investigation that vital evidence was found in his address and led to him admitting the offences.

"Dorset Police takes burglary offences very seriously as they can be extremely distressing experiences for residents.

"I hope that the sentence imposed by the court demonstrates the offenders such as Lewis will be brought to justice."

Lewis was sentenced at crown court on March 8.