A MAN who raided three homes in Southampton, one of which he made a getaway using a girl’s bike, has been jailed for more than four years.

Michael Dorward burgled homes in Shirley and The Polygon areas of the city last year.

The 43-year-old was seen on CCTV leaving one of the areas on a girl’s bike with a basket.

Now Dorward, of no fixed address, has been jailed for 52 months after pleading guilty to three counts of burglary and four bank card frauds.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Dorward raided one home on Wilton Avenue, The Polygon, overnight on March 29.

Dorward then targeted a home in Norfolk Road, Shirley, on May 3.

His final burglary took place at another home in Wilton Avenue, on May 8.

He stole a variety of valuables from the three properties, including jewellery, laptops and games consoles – none of which has been recovered.

PC Charlie Buckingham from the Operation Hawk team said: “We were able to track him on council CCTV leaving the area of the third burglary on his getaway vehicle, a green girls’ bike with a basket.

“We then recovered footage of him using the stolen bank card within a short time of the burglary offence. Dorward would smash glass in the front doors to gain entry and then search the entire premises, stealing jewellery, laptop computers, iPads and games consoles. No property has ever been recovered.”