Burglar came to UK each winter to break into homes

A serial burglar who is said to have travelled to the UK each winter to burgle homes across the South East has been jailed.

Gledis Uka was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment at Maidstone Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to 19 of 33 offences in counties including Kent and Surrey between 2023 and 2025.

Forensic evidence saw the 30-year-old Albanian national finally arrested in January, bringing his seasonal crime sprees to an end.

Kent Police's Det Con Celia King said Uka, of no fixed address, had "no remorse" for his victims, adding that she was "glad to see him behind bars".

In December 2023, officers responded to two separate reports of burglaries in Edenbridge in Kent, where windows and doors had been smashed to gain entry and jewellery stolen.

Blood had been found at both houses.

Similar reports were then sporadically received from other homes in the area, along with addresses in Sevenoaks, until November 2025 - with blood left at the scenes once again.

Burglaries were also taking place in Berkshire, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Essex, London and Suffolk, until police spotted a pattern to the crimes - they were all occurring between October and January, before stopping until the following winter.

Uka was finally apprehended in Essex at the start of 2026, following what King described as "a complex investigation which highlighted the perseverance and dedication" of her officers.

"Due to the time between each burglary and the different locations, a thorough process was needed to ensure we could officially connect them and, via forensics, link them to Uka," she said.

"Once identified, there were further complexities in tracking him down as he was believed to be coming to England only during the winter months."

King added: "Uka had no remorse for his victims, smashing his way into the properties, leaving a mess and stealing sentimental items.

"I'm glad to see him behind bars and that years of hard work has paid off."

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, X, and on Instagram and listen to BBC Radio Kent on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.