A one-man crimewave known as the Brunswick Burglar has been jailed for three years.

Frank Baki Fischer carried out an "orgy of serious crime" to feed his addiction to crack cocaine.

Detectives put up a £500 reward for his capture after he broke into more than 22 flats in the Brunswick area of Hove.

All the break-ins happened in November and December last year, Hove Crown Court heard today.

Baki Fischer, a security guard, embarked on his crime spree after running up drug debts of more than £6,000.

His dealers threatened him and showed him how to break into flats to steal property to sell.

He was caught after his desperation to pay them off led him to break into a neigbour's flat.

Matthew Corbett heard someone banging on his front door at a block of flats in Fourth Avenue, Hove.

Amy Packham, prosecuting, said Mr Corbett went to investigate and saw the defendant walking towards the communal front door.

Miss Packham said: "Mr Corbett followed him to Cottinghams store in Church Road.

"He saw Baki Fischer leave without paying for a bottle of alcohol and followed him back to his home address in Fourth Avenue."

Mr Corbett called the police and Baki Fischer was arrested - bringing to an end a two-month manhunt.

He is in line for a commendation from the Chief Constable of Sussex for his actions. But it has emerged that he is unlikely to get the reward - despite his quick-thinking - as he is regarded as a victim rather than an informant.

Baki Fischer, 31, of Fourth Avenue, Hove, admitted three burglaries, two shopliftings and an attempted burglary at an earlier hearing.

He asked for 21 similar offences to be taken into consideration when he was sentenced today.

Jeffrey Lamb, defending, said Baki Fischer was well educated and came from a "very comfortable" background.

He said the defendant had helped police clear up some of the burglaries by taking them to the scene.

Mr Lamb said: "He began taking cocaine recreationally and quickly became addicted and then moved on to crack cocaine.

"Because of his comfortable background his suppliers allowed him to get heavily into to their debt.

"He was taught how to commit burglaries in order to obtain things to sell.

"He is an intelligent man and recognises that his actions were deplorable. He has written letters apologising to his victims.

"He is deeply, deeply sorry both for his victims and for the shame he has brought on his family."

Judge Cedric Joseph told Baki Fischer: "There is no way of describing your activities other than it was an orgy of serious crime.

"Anyone who enters someone else's house and steals can only expect a substantial custodial sentence.

"I wonder if you have really sat back and thought about the effect your activities have had on the victims of your crimes.

"I wonder how you would feel if someone bashed down your door and rifled through your possessions.

"I am going to give you plenty of time to think about that."

Detective Constable Steve Smethurst welcomed the sentence.

He said: "It is a long sentence which reflects the volume of crime he committed and it will be a deterrent to others.

"He is from a good background and he is not the sort of person you would usually suspect of such crimes if you passed him in the street."