AN opportunistic burglar who escaped from police by driving through a children's play area has been jailed for more than three years.

Shane Smith, 27, of Gypsy Lane, Little Dunmow, admitted to a string of offences including burglary and drink driving at Chelmsford Crown Court on Tuesday.

Back in August 2017, police received calls from residents in Fordham that a man matching his description had tried to break into their garages.

He was spotted driving a white van and, on one occasion, waved to a woman as he drove off.

One another occasion he pretended he had knocked at the wrong address as a man arrived at home.

Then last October, he was arrested at George Yard Shopping Centre, in Braintree, after failing to stop for careless and drink driving and was later released under investigation.

But following his arrest police received information that Smith’s DNA had been found an attempted burglary in Widford in Hertfordshire.

He went on to burgle a property in The Street, Little Dunmow, on September 2 this year where he stole jewellery, handbags, car keys, cards and two distinctive baseball caps.

He was caught on CCTV wearing a cap and walking off with things in a pillow case.

Officers then tried to stop Smith 17 days after spotting him driving a van in Felsted but he drove through a children’s play area during school rush hour before escaping.

The police then asked for the public's help to trace Smith on October 9 and he was arrested and charged the following day.

He was sentenced to three years and four months in prison on November 13 for burglary, attempted burglary of three addresses, two counts of dangerous driving, no insurance and drink driving.

He was also banned from driving for 44 months.

Detective Sergeant Becky Young, of Braintree CID, said: "Smith is an opportunist who drove around rural villages during work hours in the hope of getting quick access to peoples’ possessions in garages and homes.

"He thought he was one step ahead of us and made dangerous decisions in his desperation to escape.

"Smith will now serve a lengthy prison sentence and driving ban."