A burglar who carried out two break-ins in Brent before fleeing to Ireland is behind bars after being extradited and convicted in court.

Joseph Tyrell, 52, who also uses the name Joseph Gorman, went on the run for two years after he targeted a restaurant in Wembley High Road in January 2010, and an address in Brondesbury Park two months later.

He was identified by the eatery’s CCTV and forensic evidence linked him to the second crime so they obtained a European arrest warrant which led to him being extradited back to London on April 2 this year.

On Monday at Harrow Crown Court he was jailed for two-and-half-years after being found guilty of two counts of burglary.

DC Ciaran Kilmartin, from Brent’s Wanted Offenders Unit, said: “Brent Police take the offence of burglary very seriously. This case shows that leaving the country will not deter the police from finding you and taking you before the court to account for your actions. This sentence reflects the impact these offences have on victims of crime.

“Brent Police will continue to track down offenders. Leaving the country will not stop justice taking its course.”