A prolific "one-man crime wave" who took photos of himself on a stolen camera has been jailed.

Matthew Goodwin, 27, admitted offences including 27 thefts from motor vehicles, and was handed a prison sentence of three years and 10 months at Maidstone Crown Court.

Goodwin, of no fixed address, was arrested when police officers investigating reports that items had been stolen from cars and vans in Kent, including across Dartford and Gravesend, began noticing similarities and linked the crimes.

On June 28 last year, officers on patrol examined a Ford Focus left abandoned in Gillingham.

They found a number of stolen items in the car - including a Nikon camera stolen from a car parked overnight in Istead Rise on June 26 on which Goodwin had taken photographs of himself.

Meanwhile, CCTV footage revealed Goodwin had been driving a white Citroen vehicle on June 12 - later discovered to have been stolen from Gillingham several days earlier. It was found abandoned in Gillingham on July 2.

After Goodwin was identified, police linked him to a further spate of thefts from motor vehicles.

Plans were put in place to arrest him, but his friends and family confirmed he was hiding from police.

Detectives out on July 29 conducting enquiries in Rochester after a Jaguar was taken spotted Goodwin driving the stolen vehicle.

The Jaguar crashed into a tree after a chase. Goodwin leapt out and ran away but was quickly located by officers and arrested.

A haul of stolen property was recovered inside the vehicle.

In addition to 27 thefts from motor vehicles, Goodwin pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated vehicle taking, driving without insurance and driving while disqualified.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Bill Looker said: "Goodwin was a one-man crime wave across three districts and caused an enormous amount of distress to his victims.

"He broke into their vehicles and stole personal items that held sentimental value. In one case he stole a vehicle and later abandoned it, and on several occasions, when he was identified through operational tactics to be driving on Kent roads, made off from police and in doing so endangered the lives of the public.

"We take seriously every report of crime that comes to us and will work round the clock to ensure criminals operating across north Kent are arrested and charged.

"However, I'd appeal to the public to come forward to us with information about suspicious or criminal activity."