A HEARTLESS burglar who targeted people's homes while they were away on holiday has been jailed.

Daniel Cornell targeted the houses in Colchester knowing they were empty.

The first came in October last year when a man received a call while he was holidaying saying that his Squirrels Field home had been broken into.

A flower pot had been hurled through a window which allowed the 43-year-old to let himself in.

He then stole gift cards a diamond ring and a bracelet.

Investigating officers found DNA at the scene and arrested Cornell on December 15.

He was then released under investigation and just 12 days later carried out another raid.

Two days after Christmas a family in Endsleigh Court were informed their home had been broken into while they were away on a festive break.

Once again jewellery was stolen as well as cash.

Again, police matched Cornell's DNA to that left at the scene.

He was arrested again in January and this time remanded in custody.

At a sentencing hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court was jailed for three years for the pair of burglaries.

His new offending activated a six month suspended sentence he received in 2017 after admitting handling stolen goods.

It will run consecutively.

The burglar got away with thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and a BMW car.

Once again, the occupants of the house were on holiday at the time of the break in.

Cornell, of Alexandra Terrace, Colchester, was initially charged with burglary but the Crown Prosecution Service accepted the lesser charge of handling.

Investigating officer Det Con James Pamment, of Colchester CID, said Cornell had no thought about the victims when he broke into their homes and was glad he would spend the Christmas period in prison.

He said: “Cornell is an opportunist who burgles addresses when he is confident they are empty.

“His actions would have had an emotional and financial impact on the victims, who received calls informing them they had been burgled while away on holiday.

“One of these burglaries took place during the festive period and it gives me comfort knowing a burglar like Cornell will spend this Christmas locked in a prison cell.”