A prolific thief stole almost £250,000 worth of jewellery and cash during a burglary spree.

'Professional robber' Timmy Connors broke into homes and commercial premises across Southampton, Chandler’s Ford and Hedge End.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the 27-year-old used cleaning products to try and cover his tracks as he ransacked homes looking for valuables.

Properties targeted he targeted included those in Glen Eyre Drive and Bridge Road in Southampton.

He also targeted a Chinese takeaway on Winchester Road, Chandler’s Ford, and two flats on Cox Row.

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In total he stole nearly £250,000 worth of cash and jewellery, and took the keys to a Range Rover Evoque.

The car was stolen but later recovered in Oak Road, Bursledon.

Connors was identified after traces of his DNA were found at almost all the burglary sites, leading to his arrest on May 21 this year.

Police found him at Travelodge in Boreham Wood where he had been staying but when they tried to detain him, he became violent and punched an officer repeatedly on the arm.

They then used physical force and CS spray to arrest him.

When interviewed, Connors, of Redford Close, Feltham in Greater London, answered no comment throughout but later pleaded admitted five offences of burglary in August and September 2023, and April and May  this year.

The judge also took three offences of burglary into consideration.

Prosecutor, Keely Harvey said there was a “significant degree of planning or organisation” to the offences, adding that tools were taken during at least some of the incidents.

She said there was a “substantial degree of loss” with Connors removing a CCTV camera during one offence to “stop the victim identifying him”.

None of the stolen items were ever recovered apart from the car.

Connors has seven previous convictions for 16 offences including a number of past burglaries.

Southampton Crown CourtSouthampton Crown Court

But Charlotte Branfield, mitigating, said her client, a member of the traveller community, had been exposed to drink and drugs from a young age when he was “shipped over” from Ireland to live with cousins.

She said: “It is not disputed that Mr Connors burgled these properties and stole these items. He is a professional robber.

“[He has] been required to do jobs like this since he was a 13, 14 year-old child. He knows the skill of the trade and he has put them to use on these occasions.

“In essence, he has been pointed at a house and told to go do a job. He is also not the person who has identified the houses and developed the plan to do it.

“The name Connors is well known to the court. The Traveller community rightly or wrongly takes pride in men being strong.

“Mental health issues are not discussed. He has had a lonely and isolating experience. He was effectively told to be a man he had to stop crying and take heroin and crack cocaine.”

She added that he was “essentially forced” into crime “to earn his keep”.

Connors was jailed for three years.

Recorder Simon Levene added: “The total amount of property stolen was very large indeed.

“It is quite clear that you have led a very very rough life indeed. You became addicted to drugs and that has further ruined your life as has the drink.

“You were coerced into doing what you did by the people with whom you were living.”