The owner of an internet café in Eastcote has told of his delight after a burglar who stole £26,000 worth of equipment was jailed for 27 months.

Edward Gourlay, 22, of Fincham Close, Ickenham, was sentenced at Harrow Crown Court earlier this month.

The crack cocaine addict burgled more than 40 businesses but was snared after his DNA was discovered on a vodka glass he drank from during a break-in.

One of his burglaries took place at internet café, in Field End Road, Eastcote, on October 8.

Owner Vahid Zeraattalab, 41, said: "I really feel good because of the hatred I have for him. When I opened for business that morning and saw everything was gone I nearly had a heart attack.

"The business was paralysed, I had just taken out a loan to expand, and then this happened - it was very hard for me.

"We were also not insured. "The credit crunch has also hit us hard, my rent is also going up, and only 20 per cent of the equipment has been recovered, most of which was wiped of important information."

Gourlay admitted to two counts of commercial burglary and one of money laundering, and also asked for a further 41 to be taken into consideration.

As well as stealing computer equipment, he owned up to raiding fast food outlets and hairdressers throughout Hillingdon, Ealing and Harrow over a six-month period.

It was during a burglary in Rayners Lane on October 5 that he took a swig from a spirit-filled pint glass, and saliva traces he left led to his capture.