A “SELFISH” crook stole children’s toys and Amazon parcels in a burglary spree that saw him target 15 homes in a single night.

Edward Williams was caught in a Southend home carrying bulging bags of Christmas presents during his rampage on December 22 last year.

The 37-year-old of no fixed address, targeted the 15 homes before breaking into a home on New Year’s Eve to steal jewellery.

Williams admitted seven burglaries, eight attempted burglaries, four counts of fraud where he used stolen bank cards, and two counts of handling stolen goods.

Williams forced his way into each home with a screwdriver.

One home in Lonsdale Road, Southend, had more than £500 worth of Christmas presents and gadgets taken.

Williams then broke into another family home while carrying the presents, and was confronted by a mum and her daughter.

Prosecuting, at Basildon Crown Court, Sarah O’Kane said: “She woke up to dogs barking and found the defendant in her house. She shouted at him asking him what he was doing there. He initially didn’t respond so she shouted again.

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“He had a hoodie on and pulled the drawstrings tight to his face and said he had come to the wrong house and he was drunk.

“He pulled his hood down and said ‘sorry’ and shook her hand.”

Police returned a lot of the items stolen, including sentimental jewellery and war medals.

Mitigating, Natasha Lake, said Williams had now spent more time in prison than out.

She said: “His drug use escalated and by 15 he was a regular user of crack cocaine, that in my submission is shocking for someone aged 15.”

Ms Lake said Williams was released from a previous prison term in July 2020, but when being rehoused in Southend with other drug users, succumbed to his addiction.

In a plea to Recorder Lesley Cuthbert, Williams’ mother Teresa Williams said he’d “never been given a chance” and was “let down” by probation.

But Recorder Cuthbert said Williams had been given multiple opportunities to change his ways and jailed him for six years.

He said: “Burglary is a horrible crime, they were made even more terrible when you went into their premises in the run up to Christmas and took Christmas presents causing distress and upset.

“Your selfish, uncaring and blatant actions have had a huge impact on your victims.”