A burglar who once raided Lord Sugar's mansion in £1.2million crime spree has been jailed for a million-pound watch heist.

David Buisson, 56, pulled off the 'highly sophisticated' raid at Bluewater shopping centre in Kent on February 7, escaping with more than 150 luxury watches.

Disguised in a face mask and hi-vis vest he scaled the roof with a telescopic ladder, bypassed multiple layers of security and forced open a safe before fleeing in a black Mercedes GLA driven by an accomplice.

The alarm was triggered but when staff came to the premises, they found the burglary had taken place and alerted authorities.

The serial burglar, known as the 'Essex Spiderman', has a long history of high-value raids, including two break-ins at Lord Sugar's Chigwell mansion.

In 2018 he stole £184,000 in jewellery and watches during a spree that netted £1.2million, before returning the next night to try and drill open a safe.

Detectives found he had made a list of the 192 wealthiest people in Essex, searching them on Facebook before targeting seven of them.

The former helicopter pilot fled to Spain but was caught on the Costa del Sol before later being jailed and ordered to repay The Apprentice star almost £174,000 in compensation.

Detectives were alerted to the Bluewater heist when the alarm was triggered and staff found the store had been ransacked.

Specialist detectives from Kent Police, who traced the Mercedes, which was using fake plates, and combed through CCTV and ANPR footage across Kent, Essex and Buckinghamshire.

It was found that Buisson's associate lived near Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, and the same Mercedes was shown to have visited Bluewater on more than ten separate reconnaissance trips in the weeks leading up to the burglary, often switching number plates to avoid detection.

On each journey, the car stopped in Harlow, Essex, where Buisson lived.

Buisson was tracked down to Penrith, Cumbria, on February 12 and arrested. A search of his home uncovered incriminating video footage, showing him scouting the jewellers before the raid.

His partner in crime was also arrested the same day in Essex, with three stolen watches recovered from his car, but he died while on remand.

Buisson, aged 56, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and yesterday was sentenced to six years and one month in prison.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Harry Groves, said: 'Buisson is a career criminal who spent a considerable amount of time planning this high-value burglary. Our exhaustive enquiries were able to show there had been a period of reconnaissance both inside and outside the shopping centre and that, on the day of the break-in, steps had been taken to disguise both Buisson's appearance and the vehicle he was using.

'This burglar bypassed a sophisticated security arrangement and thought he had escaped detection. 

His confidence was misplaced however and some dogged investigation assisted by both the business he had targeted and the Bluewater security team, ensured he was tracked down. 

'Buisson is now serving a lengthy prison sentence in prison and our investigation will continue in an effort to recover the stolen watches that have yet to be recovered.'

The former helicopter pilot previously pocketed £1,270,379.50 following the string of raids, breaking into homes and businesses across Epping Forest and Canvey Island including Lord Sugar's mansion.

A raid was also carried out on the home of joint chairman of West Ham United David Sullivan, although Buisson was never charged in relation to that crime.

He used a ladder to get inside Sir Sugar's home on June 5 2018 and took watches and jewellery worth £184,000. He then returned the following night to try and open a safe with a drill. 

Among his other crimes, Buisson admitted a 2015 burglary at Smith's Brasserie in Ongar, a place popular with the stars of The Only Way Is Essex.

He disabled the alarm and spent 40 minutes opening a safe using specialist equipment.

After police searched his home and found signal-jamming equipment, Buisson went on the run.

Essex Police said officers investigating Buisson had found tools and items used for drilling and lock picking at addresses linked to him in Ongar and Woodford. They also found a stolen drone and jewellery.

A seized computer showed internet searches had been made for some of the addresses that were later burgled. 

He fled to Spain and was caught by the National Crime Agency in Fuengirola, on the Costa del Sol. He returned to the UK in May.

As well as his jail term, Buisson was also placed under a serious crime prevention order.