A YOUNG burglar who repeatedly raided houses while the occupants slept inside has been jailed for more than two years and four months.

Kieran Barlow broke into three house in Swindon and another in Calne, plundering high value items like computers, phones and bank cards.

And in the Swindon raids the 20-year-old also drove off in high end cars, including two Mercedes Benz, which were each then involved in police chases.

Now after hearing Barlow - whose name appears as Keiron on court records - was a 'three strike' burglar a judge jailed him for the mandatory minimum of three years, minus 20 per cent for pleading guilty.

Tessa Hingston, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that Barlow's latest spate of offending took place over a few days in July.

She said an occupant of a house in Barrowby Gate, Kingsdown, Swindon, woke just before 4.30am on Thursday, July 14, to see his Mercedes sports estate was missing.

When he went downstairs he noticed a number of items missing including a handbag, wallet, bank cards and other documents.

She said the vehicle was found after a pursuit through Chippenham and the defendant's fingerprints were found in the house.

A few days later, on the morning of Monday, July 18, a couple living in York Road, Swindon, woke to find their house had been burgled.

As well as iPads and bank cards the key to the couple's blue Mercedes SLK was also taken along with the vehicle.

Barlow was seen on CCTV trying to use one of the stolen cards, also left his prints behind again, and the car was also found after a chase in Swindon.

The following day the occupants of a house in Comfrey Close, Swindon, got up to find an intruder had taken computers, mobiles, bank cards and their Renault Clio.

He also raided a house in Ogilvie Square, Calne, a few days earlier, the court was told.

Barlow, who is of no fixed address, admitted four counts of burglary and three of thefts of cars.

The court was told that he had numerous previous convictions for burglary and taking cars without consent.

Last year Barlow was given a suspended jail sentence for burgling two old folks' homes while residents slept in their beds.

He smashed his way into sheltered housing complexes and ransacked offices, stealing money from cash boxes, also go into the lounge area in one of the homes where he prised open cupboards looking for valuables.

Gareth James, defending, said his client accepted he had targeted properties which had been left insecure with open windows.

He said he accepted he was going to receive a lengthy jail term as he is a three strike burglar.

"He realises he can't carry on as he has in the past as he realises the sentence are going to get longer and longer," said Mr James.

Jailing him Judge Tim Mousley QC said: "Over the period of time covered by these charges you have committed a spate of offences of significant dishonesty.

"They were burglaries of people's homes at night while whey were occupied and you were intent on stealing items of high value.

"You are still relatively young, although you have an appalling record, so that provides some mitigation for you."

He imposed a sentence of 876 days, which is the three year minimum, with a maximum discount of 20 per cent for pleading guilty.