A BRAZEN burglar who left his Ford Focus on the driveway of the homes he broke into has been jailed.

Conrad Penn, 46, was sentenced to two years and five months to run concurrently at Chelmsford Crown Court after admitting two burglaries, fraud and driving while disqualified in July.

A startled elderly woman, in her 70s, arrived back at her home in Bures to find Penn in her study.

Before leaving he put items and a three-figure sum of cash in a bag.

The back door, where he gained entry into the Suffolk property, was smashed.

This was the first daytime break-in on May 31, the second took place less than a week later on June 6.

At about 8.20am, a woman returned home to Bromley Road, Ardleigh, and found Penn's Ford Focus on her driveway.

Noticing a man upstairs, she alerted passers-by who apprehended Penn as he left the house with jewellery and a watch given to the victim’s late mother.

Penn, of Conifer Close, Colchester, was also disqualified from driving for six months after committing insurance fraud back in April.

He took out an insurance policy on a Ford Focus without disclosing he had not taken his driving test.

Central London Magistrates’ Court ordered the ban and for him to retake the test when he appeared there in June.

Investigating officer Dc Richard English, of Clacton CID, said: “Penn’s actions were brazen.

"He burgled his victims in the morning with no regard of whether they were in or he whether he would be caught.

“On both occasions the victims returned home to find Penn searching through their personal belongings.

"I would like to thank them for supporting our investigations. I understand burglary can be a terrifying experience for everyone involved.

"I am pleased a burglar like Penn has been removed from our streets.

He added: “I would like to give a special thanks to a member of the public who bravely apprehended Penn with the support of other passers-by.

"We are making plans to recognise his actions with some form of award.”