A MAN who burgled houses and stole cars in a two-week crime spree has been jailed for nearly five years.

Reece Tarr committed eight offences during the fortnight of crime, targeting homes in Barrow.

The 26-year-old also punched a man who disturbed him during an attempted burglary.

Tarr, of Barrow's Gloucester Street, previously pleaded guilty to eight offences and appeared before Preston Crown Court to be sentenced.

Tarr targeted homes on Fife Street, Devon Street and Middleton Avenue, Barrow, between July 12 and 23 last year.

During two incidents Tarr entered homes in the late evening, located car keys and stole a car.

A Peugeot and Mercedes taken were later recovered by officers.

Tarr also returned to one home having taken a car in an attempt to steal further and was interrupted by the occupant and began throwing punches at the householder assaulting him, causing bruising.

In another incident Tarr was seen on a doorbell camera trying the door in an attempt to gain access. He also entered a property but left immediately after the victim shouted hello, and was seen walking away from the property, said police.

He admitted burgling a house in Barrow's Fife Street between July 10 and 12 2021, stealing a set of car keys.

Between July 21 and 23 2021, Tarr stole a set of car keys and two Playstation 4 consoles during the burglary at Middleton Avenue.

The Mail: Preston Crown Court

A judge sentenced him to four years and six months in prison for the offences.

Detective Constable Sarah Knight said: “We take burglary offences extremely seriously and people should feel secure in their own homes.

“Tarr targeted properties over three nights attempting to gain access to homes, where he did gain access he took property, some of which was recovered others he has sold for cash.

“Today’s sentence is a warning to those who carry out similar offences should expect to face a police investigation and prosecution.”

Tarr was described as a 'professional criminal' when he was jailed by magistrates for other offences earlier this year.

He was convicted of two charges of criminal damage, harassment and drug possession.

South Cumbria Magistrates' Court heard that on March 7, Tarr damaged the windscreen, rear window and bodywork of a Ford Focus belonging to a woman.

He also used threatening or abusive behaviour to cause alarm and distress.

The day after on March 8 he was found in possession of a quantity of class B drug cannabis.

He was jailed for ten weeks.

Explaining the decision to jail him, court records said: "The offence was committed during the operational period of a suspended sentence [and] the number and nature of the offences shows that the defendant is operating as a professional criminal."