A 37-year-old man has been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison after admitting to a spree of ten burglaries across seven counties, including Kent, Essex, London, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, and Wiltshire. Leonardo Velasquez-Valencia, who attempted to flee to Canada to evade capture, was detained at Heathrow Airport after being denied entry by Canadian authorities.
Velasquez-Valencia’s sentence was handed down at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday, October 31, following his guilty plea on August 21 to multiple burglary charges. His arrest stems from a break-in at a Sevenoaks residence on February 8, where he stole items including jewellery, cash, a laptop, and a handbag. Forensic evidence collected from the crime scene helped identify him, and further investigations linked him to additional burglaries committed between February 1 and March 29.
Velasquez-Valencia fled to Canada on May 25, carrying $6,700 in Canadian and U.S. currency without a valid explanation, resulting in his denial of entry. Upon his return to the UK, he was arrested in connection with the Sevenoaks burglary and other incidents across the country.
Detective Constable Joshua Littley, who led the investigation, said, “Velasquez-Valencia committed a crime spree, for his own financial gain, giving little thought to the impact on his victims. He callously stole heirlooms, and sentimental jewellery pieces, and caused substantial damage to several properties, leaving victims feeling unsafe and grieving the loss of items that held considerable meaning for them.”
Velasquez-Valencia’s sentence, authorities hope, will provide some solace to his victims and serve as a strong deterrent against similar criminal behaviour.
