A burglar has been jailed for stealing £50,000 worth of designer clothes.

At some point between 8.30pm on October 7, 2017 and 6am the following day Edward Williams broke into an address in Manor Road, Chigwell.

He fled with £50,000 worth of designer clothes and shoes.

Less than a week later on October 13, a woman in her 40s came home to her address in Magdalen Gardens, Hutton to find someone had tried to break in to her house.

CCTV from the area showed a blue Ford Mondeo arriving at the address and parking on the drive at around 11am before driving off a short time later.

A man then returned to the address within a few minutes and walked down the side of the home before walking to a Ford Mondeo.

The vehicle was later identified as being a hire car, registered to a person who had allowed Williams to drive it.

When officers carried out a search warrant at an address in Rainham they found a number of items of designer clothing which was later confirmed as belonging to the victim in Chigwell, a woman in her 20s.

Detective Sergeant David Wilkinson, from Brentwood CID, said: “Edward Williams has little regard for other peoples’ property.

“He ransacked the home of his victim, stealing thousands of pounds worth items.

“Burglaries are horrible, invasive crimes and can often leave their victims feeling that their private space has been violated.

“I hope Williams thinks about this while he’s behind bars and I’m glad he’s off our streets.”

Officers spoke to Williams on January 5, 2018 and he appeared at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on October 11 where he was charged with burglary, attempted burglary, and theft.

Williams, 35, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to the charges at Basildon Crown Court today (Monday, February 11) and was jailed for three years and four months.