A MAN has been jailed for three-and-a-half years for burglaries across Hampshire.

Christopher Woodcock was sentenced for two counts of burglary, but also asked for 11 other offences of burglary to be taken into consideration at Bournemouth Crown Court.

Officers in the New Forest worked to bring Woodcock, 40, of Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, to justice as part of local initiative Operation Smash fronted by their Priority Crime Team that looked to identify suspects in high value burglaries.

All of the homes targeted – in New Milton, Woodlands, Pennington, Hordle and Everton - were large houses in rural locations where electronics and jewellery were stolen.

Woodcock, originally from Bristol and also known as Christopher Maggs, was arrested on September 29.

Police said they have made every effort to identify stolen items and recover them to reunite them with their rightful owners.

Police Staff Investigator Joanne Moger from the Priority Crime Team said: “It has been incredibly satisfying to reunite property with victims of burglary.

“We are really pleased with the results from this initiative so far and hope that we can continue to provide reassurance in the local community that burglars are caught and are charged.”