A LONDON man has been sentenced to six years in prison for a string of burglaries in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

Adam Prendergast, 33, of Blakes Road in Peckham, was sentenced at Worcester Crown Court to six years in prison for the burglary of nine homes; four of which were in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

He was caught by officers in Herefordshire after he had broken into the homes of elderly and vulnerable people and stolen their cash, jewellery and silverware in April.

PC Simon Caine, from Herefordshire Proactive Criminal Investigation Department, said: "Prendergast preyed on those who were vulnerable and had no issue breaking into their homes and taking from them possessions that had significant meaning and value.

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"On Monday April 25 he was spotted by officers from the Herefordshire Operational Policing Unit who identified his number plates as false and he failed to stop for them once they tried to pull him over.

"He then drove at extremely dangerous high speeds through quiet villages putting pedestrians, and other road users lives’ at risk before ramming the pursuing police car in Leominster.

PC Caine said that possesions from several homes were found in the car.

He said: "Prendergast is a predator and the sentence handed down to him will I hope provide some comfort to his victims and will prevent him from violating other people’s homes and lives and will keep people safe from him.

"Our team and all officers and staff across West Mercia work hard daily to detect and prevent burglary and to keep people’s homes and possessions safe.

"My hope is that other offenders will take notice that elderly and vulnerable people in our communities are not an easy target and we will find you, catch you and you will go to prison."