A DANGEROUS burglar who went on a three week thieving spree after escaping from a secure unit where he was serving a sentence for armed burglary has been jailed, writes Kate Ferguson. Ashley Waterman, 21, was given an indeterminate sentence and will have

A DANGEROUS burglar who went on a three week thieving spree after escaping from a secure unit where he was serving a sentence for armed burglary has been jailed, writes Kate Ferguson.

Ashley Waterman, 21, was given an indeterminate sentence and will have to serve a minimum of five years and ten months for six burglary offences he committed across north west London while on the run.

Woolwich Crown Court heard how Waterman was in the middle of serving a five year sentence for robbing a branch of McDonald's with a Samurai sword when he escaped from a secure mental health facility, where he was being held, in December 2008.

While on the run Waterman committed a spate of robberies, including a raid on an Ikea store in North Circular Road, Wembley, from which he made off with �875 worth of goods.

Just a few days later, on January 5, Waterman struck again in a smash and grab raid on a transit van carrying cash from a cinema in Notting Hill, where he assaulted a security guard and stole �7,419 in cash.

Detectives snared Waterman in a cross-borough armed operation at an address in west London two days later.

Cash, stolen property, and a stun gun used in a robbery were seized from the address.

In a hearing in November Waterman pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm, being a prohibited person and absconding from custody.

He pleaded guilty to six further offences and seven others will now lie on file.