A violent and “prolific” burglar who broke into a Watford High Street café has been jailed for three years.

Jason Turner, of The Crestway, Brighton, was sentenced to 40 months imprisonment at Brighton Crown Court on January 5 after an 11-day trial.

He had committed a string of offences, mostly in Brighton, but which also included taking almost £200 in cash from Watford’s Ocean Bells Café in a burglary on January 4.

After the break-in, police arrived and were able to locate Turner in an underpass in George Street where he was arrested. He also had a knife at the time.

"Turner is a prolific offender with a repeated desire to follow a path of criminality,” said Sussex Police Detective Constable James Botting.

“As well as individual victims, many businesses, the majority of them small, will have suffered greatly due to Turner’s choices."

Overall, he was found guilty of ten charges of burglary, two of theft, one of actual bodily harm, and one of knife possession.

This is because, despite the Watford arrest, between January 12 and February 9 last year the 40-year-old went on a spree of offences that spanned 13 locations across Brighton.

Watford Observer: Ocean Bells, in Watford High Street.Ocean Bells, in Watford High Street. (Image: Ocean Bells Coffee/Instagram)

He stole a TV, computers, and a vacuum cleaner from a travel agent, a phone from a shop, takings from a pub till, and speakers and perfume from a hotel — just during January. When stealing the phone he headbutted a member of staff who confronted him and he threatened staff trying to stop him in the pub.

Within the first five days of February, he then hit a takeaway, a clothing store, a hotel and student accommodation.

He was arrested at his home address on February 6. After being interviewed and released on conditional bail, Turner restarted the spree just two days later by breaking into a restaurant.

Watford Observer: Jason Turner.Jason Turner. (Image: Sussex Police)

The next day he unsuccessfully attempted to break into a shop before threatening a taxi driver with a knife when he asked for the fare payment. He said: "If you don't want me to cut you open then just go", police revealed.

Turner was arrested after the taxi driver called the police. He was then remanded until his court date on October 30.

During the intervening time he was linked to and charged for further offences, as CCTV and forensic breakthroughs placed him at the scenes of each crime leaving a final tally of 14 offences.

Detective Constable Botting added: “With 13 locations, and 14 offences, huge levels of resourcing were required to thoroughly investigate and tie together the crimes.

“Not only was there an incredible amount of teamwork seen from departments within Sussex Police, but from the public who played a key role in providing useful information to support the numerous investigations.

“Turner managed to evade capture during early arrest attempts, but after persistent police action, he was remanded and prevented from further offending, leading to a sentence of 40 months for his involvement in this series of criminal activity.”