A burglar has been sentenced to 20 months behind bars after targeting narrow boats in Hackney.

Abdul Wahid Khan, 28 of Warner Place, Bethnal Green, raided the vessels moored on the Lea Navigation Canal in Homerton in June.

He was disturbed by the occupants on one of the boats before escaping with a laptop and when police arrived they found him attempting to break into another one.

Khan tried to escape but officers detained him and he was subsequently charged.

He denied two counts of burglary at Snaresbrook Crown Court but was found guilty following a trial.

Det Con Ed Bennett, from Hackney’s Operation Bantam, said: “This is a great result, achieved following the swift actions of the officers who attended the scene.”