A man who was found guilty of burgling five homes and linked to the crimes from DNA evidence was sentenced to six years imprisonment on Wednesday.

James Williams, 53, of no fixed abode, committed four burglaries between October 5 and 6 and a fifth on October 13, all in the Stoke Newington area.

Snaresbrook Crown Court heard that Williams stole various items, which included a 13 piece candelabra, a diamond brooch, 12 silver goblets and two silver trays during the burglaries.

Officers investigating discovered a lighter in the garden of one of the burgled houses. On October 15 a DNA match to Williams was lifted from the lighter.

A vehicle belonging to Williams was registered on automatic number plate recognition cameras in the area on October 5 and again in the early hours of October 6.

Several items of property were recovered from a pawn broker in Bournemouth and later identified by the victim. CCTV captured Williams entering the venue on October 6 and 13.

On October 17, Williams was arrested by officers from Dorset police and later transferred to Stoke Newington Police Station. Williams was subsequently charged with four counts of burglary.

On February 27, Williams was further charged with a fifth burglary.

DC Moira Edon-Ronan, from Hackney’s serious acquisitive crime unit, said: “I am extremely pleased with this sentence. These burglaries have had a significant impact on their victims. The offences were particularly callous, being committed during a period of religious observance in the homes of Jewish residents on the Sabbath.”