A man who broke into several houses dressed as a police officer has gone on the run.

John O’Brien, of Briar Road in Stockton on Tees, Cleveland, failed to show up for his trial at Canterbury Crown Court.

The cheeky thief then sent Judge Heather Norton his apologies for his absence but that did not prevent him from being convicted and sentenced.

O’Brien, 38, attempted to break into a house in Broadstairs Road, Broadstairs, after knocking on the door of an elderly man claiming to be a Met Police officer.

The man challenged O’Brien asking him to show identification and he said he would return with paperwork and then left.

He then burgled a house in Carlton Avenue in Broadstairs on the same day in November last year.

O’Brien and a pal also attempted to burgle a house in Northdown Hill in Broadstairs before breaking into property in Broadlands Drive, Chatham.

Judge Norton heard how the two men dressed as police officers before escaping with cash, wedding rings and coins.

“What they did will knock the confidence of people trusting in the police..." - Judge Heather Norton

O’Brien’s pal Paul Ellis pleaded guilty to the burglary charges and received a 42-month prison sentence earlier this year.

The judge said that it was O’Brien who had done all the talking at the homes trying to con householders he was a police man.

And after failing to show up for his trial he was convicted in his absence.

Before the hearing, he was contacted by telephone by his lawyers and asked them to pass on his apologies but he was not going to attend his trial.

Judge Norton gave him a four and a half jail sentence saying they had been “nasty and cowardly” burglaries on elderly and vulnerable people.

“What they did will knock the confidence of people trusting in the police, “ she added.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Daniel Bister said: "Both men specifically targeted vulnerable victims by pretending to be police officers in order to try and trick their way into the homes of the victims which is despicable.

"Police officers will never contact any member of the public requesting money and I would encourage anyone approached by people claiming to be police officers that if they are not sure on the validity of the caller that they close the door and call 101.

"A genuine police officer will be happy to wait."