A BURGLAR caught on camera pinching £3,000 worth of cash and jewellery has been jailed for three years.

Colin Ellinor, 55, used a brick to smash the window of a house in Horsemere Green Lane, Climping, where he stole two wedding rings, a gold and platinum set diamond ring, and cash from children’s money boxes.

Ellinor, of no fixed abode, was caught on a motion camera committing the crime in July, with the footage shared across social media.

He continued to offend, and was caught in August trying to break into a house in Bognor.

Ellinor pleaded guilty to one count of burglary and one of attempted burglary at Lewes Crown Court last week.

Detective Constable Jon Woolley, of the West Sussex Community Investigation Team, said: “Social media played a key role in bringing this prolific burglar to justice. He was initially recognised by a retired police officer following the incident in Climping, and after further CCTV images of the attempted burglary in North Bersted Street, Bognor Regis were circulated, we received several more calls from members of the public who nominated the same suspect.

“CCTV and motion sensor cameras are becoming more affordable and more widely available, and in these cases they provided vital evidence which led to Ellinor’s conviction.

“The incidents have left the victims understandably distressed, and I hope it gives them peace of mind that this serial offender is now behind bars.”