A serial car thief who stole a van on Christmas Eve filled with presents has been jailed for four years.

Ryan Holt, 18, who stole from homes in Dartford, New Ash Green and Snodland between December 2017 and March 2019, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court yesterday.

Holt, of Littlebrook Manor Way, Dartford, was linked to each offence through DNA and being caught on CCTV.

He admitted three counts of burglary, four four counts of theft of motor vehicle and one count of theft.

The teenager was also sentenced for two counts of assaulting prison officers while he was held in custody for an unrelated matter.

Holt targeted a property in Knights Croft, New Ash Green on December 24 2017, during an overnight break-in, and the stolen van was found abandoned by officers in Elm Road, Dartford, four days later.

The registration on the van had been swapped and Holt's DNA was found on a piece of electrical tape holding the new plate in place.

Just under a year later, on December 16 2018, Holt stole three cars from a property in Veles Road, Snodland, after forcing the vehicles doors open and stealing the keys.

A glove print found on one of the doors later provided a DNA match for the offender.

The court also heard how on Tuesday, March 5, Holt was caught twice on CCTV committing separate offences.

At 2.45pm he was seen stealing a set of keys that were accidentally left in the front door of a property in Rosebury Gardens, Dartford, before later burgling a home in nearby Dorchester Close - this time taking a watch, handbag and cash.

Holt was arrested on the same evening after officers recognised him from the footage.

Detective Constable Richard Sears, one of the investigating officers for the case, said: "Ryan Holt has shown himself to be a persistent offender who poses an unacceptable risk to members of the public.

"He has caused a considerable amount of distress to numerous victims and I am pleased that his sentence means he is no longer able to target innocent members of the public."

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