A MAN stole and crashed a luxury car after breaking into homes in South Woodham Ferrers.

Daryl Munro, 26, was found guilty of two counts of burglary and one count of aggravated vehicle taking at Chelmsford Crown Court.

The court heard Munro broke into two homes in South Woodham Ferrers overnight between October 13-14 last year.

He took a PlayStation 4 and other gaming equipment, several watches, a pair of earrings, a three-figure sum of cash, and children’s birthday cards which he removed the money from, at an address in Hallowell Down, leaving the front door wide when he left.

The same night, Munro broke into a house in Clements Green Lane in the town.

As well as taking property worth up to £3,000, including an iPhone, he stole the car keys for the red Jaguar XF parked outside.

Munro stole the car but crashed it into a wall outside the Texaco service station on Whitmore Road, Basildon, just before 5.40am on October 14.

The Jaguar also collided with a parked car, before Munro escaped from the vehicle and fled the scene, leaving most the stolen property inside.

Later that day, CCTV of Munro was released on Facebook and he was positively identified.

Forensic testing of the Jaguar linked Munro to the vehicle and burglaries, as fingerprints and spots of blood tested positive for his DNA.

Munro, of Pound Lane, North Benfleet, was arrested in Canvey on December 3.

On Monday, he was given a 21-month suspended sentence for the burglary in Clements Road, ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work and must pay £5,500 back to the owner of the Jaguar.

He received a 12-month suspended sentence to run concurrently for the aggravated vehicle taking and was banned from driving for two years.

Munro was given an 18-month suspended sentence for the Hallowell Down burglary.

He was found not guilty of one count of burglary.

Investigating officer Det Con Harriet Ware said: “Entering people’s homes when they are asleep and stealing their hard-earned property is an appalling crime.

“It’s an invasion of people’s personal space and has a lasting impact on the victims.

“Munro burgled my victims’ houses without any care or remorse for his actions.

“It’s extremely fortunate that no one was hurt when he crashed the car, and he left the scene without taking responsibility for his actions.

“I am happy that Munro has been found guilty and hope that my victims may be able to find closure following the trial.”

Det Insp Kelly Thurston, of Chelmsford CID, added: “My officers work tirelessly to ensure that victims get a positive outcome.

“Burglary is an understated area of crime that leaves victims feeling powerless and helpless and sometimes constantly in fear.

“I am pleased that a jury were able to see that Munro was guilty and, hopefully, this will assist in bringing the victims some closure and, where appropriate, some compensation.”