A man, woman and boy received custodial sentences for a series of burglary offences in London, Surrey, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, at Reading Crown Court.

Michael Henge, 38, from Oaks View Park, near Arncott, was sentenced to ten years in prison.

His girlfriend at the time, Bridget Todd, from Uxbridge, was given a two-and-a-half-year sentence. A 12-year-old boy from Uxbridge, was given a 14-month sentence.

Det Con Russell Prentice said: “The offenders worked in a team who often targeted elderly and vulnerable victims who lived alone and in isolated areas.

"Between May 2009 and December 2009, they committed a series of 35 burglaries in London, Surrey, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

“The method they used left the victims feeling deceived and violated in their own homes.

“The boy would knock on the door with a story that his ball had bounced into the victim’s garden and asked if he could go in to look for it, often claiming it had sentimental value.

“The boy would persuade the victim to help him search the garden whilst cash and jewellery was stolen from inside “I am pleased with the sentences. The offences were dishonest, pre-planned and caused the victims a lot of stress, fear and sleepless nights.

"The offences began soon after Michael Henge was released from prison on licence for a similar type of crime and required the efforts of a specific police operation to detect them.”