CONGLETON'S most prolific burglar was sentenced to four and a half years in prison last week.

Described by police as a 'one man crime wave', Mark Cunningham, 36 from Warrington pleaded guilty to two burglary charges and had 19 others taken into consideration.

He was also sentenced at Chester Crown Court for two charges of possessing heroin and cocaine.

His arrest came about due to one of the most successful local police operations ever, with the Congleton Community Action Team and Neighbourhood Policing Unit working together.

Sgt Gareth Woods said: "The sentence term is appropriate and sends out the right message to other criminals."