Man jailed following Kings Langley burglary

A burglar who broke into a Three Rivers home earlier this year has been jailed.

Leonardo Velasquez-Valencia, aged 37, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to breaking into the property on Toms Lane, Kings Langley overnight between Tuesday 5 March and Wednesday 6 March.

He also admitted to nine further burglaries which took place across six other counties, including Kent, Essex, London, Surrey, Buckinghamshire and Wiltshire between 1 February and 29 March 2024.

He was sentenced to three years and nine months’ imprisonment at Maidstone Crown Court, Kent on Thursday 31 October.

In an attempt to avoid police, Velasquez-Valencia had flown to Canada on Tuesday 25 May, but was refused entry for having $6,700 Canadian and US dollars on his person and no valid reason for carrying such a large quantity of cash.

He was arrested and remanded upon his return to the UK.

Detective Sergeant Darren Machin, of the Three Rivers Local Crime Unit: “Collaborative work between several other forces resulted in a prolific burglar being apprehended and brought to justice.

“Excellent work revealed Velasquez-Valencia was responsible for 10 burglaries across the country which he pleaded guilty to and has now been jailed.”

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