A prolific thief dubbed the "Wimbledon prowler" has admitted raiding a string of homes.

Asdrit Kapaj, 42, from Greater Manchester, carried out a "sustained campaign" targeting the Wimbledon area, home to the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

He was also accused of targeting the home of tennis star Boris Becker, but that charge was not put to him when he appeared at Kingston Crown Court.

Kapaj, a married father of two, pleaded guilty to 21 counts of burglary, two counts of attempted burglary and a further count of going equipped.

He will be sentenced in the coming months, but prosecutors must first liaise with alleged victims including Becker, who was allegedly targeted in a failed attempt in Wimbledon in October 2013.

The spree admitted by the Kosovo Serb started in July 2008 and came to a head in February this year when he was finally arrested.

Judge Peter Lodder QC described Kapaj as having "identified a particular area and conducted a sustained campaign".

Kapaj is expected to be sentenced by June 21, after the remaining three alleged victims are consulted with.

Alexandra Boshell, prosecuting, said much of the evidence comes from automatic number plate recognition technology tracking his car coming down from Altrincham to the wealthy London area.

Kapaj's haul included jewellery including a diamond ring and a gold necklace, as well as a dress and thousands of pounds in cash.

Scotland Yard previously linked the Wimbledon prowler to 200 burglaries in a decade.

But the number of crimes brought by the prosecution did not amount to such a total.

Wearing a trademark fisherman's hat, the prowler was accused of meticulously destroying security equipment and may have used a device to pick locks.

But when he was arrested on February 22, that trademark hat appeared to have been ditched and instead he was caught with a snood, a pair of gloves and a torch.

He was also said to have been disturbed by householders several times.

On one occasion, he was reportedly chased across a garden by French footballer Nicolas Anelka.

Kapaj, who appeared in court wearing a purple tracksuit, was remanded in custody.