Albanian 'hawk' who terrorized England sentenced to 10 years in prison

By James Richings,  BRACKELL NEWS

A serial burglar who targeted homes in Berkshire as part of a major burglary spree in the south of England has been jailed for 10 years.

Gladys Uka, 30, is accused of a series of burglaries in Berkshire, as well as other areas of Buckinghamshire, Bristol, Essex, London, Suffolk, Surrey and Kent, following a complex investigation that lasted more than two years.

Police found traces of blood in both of the burglarized apartments and conducted forensic examinations.

Over the following two years, other burglaries with similar characteristics were reported in Edenbridge and Sevenoaks, where blood was also found at some of the scenes.

Evidence collected from these cases helped investigators link the thefts to each other and identify Gledis Uka, an Albanian citizen, as the suspected perpetrator.

Detectives also uncovered what they describe as a clear criminal pattern: it is believed that Uka would travel to England during the winter months to commit thefts and then leave the country again.

On January 30, 2026, Uka, of no fixed address, was arrested by Kent Police in Essex.

A day later, he was charged with 33 offences relating to thefts across the south of England, including those committed in Buckinghamshire.

Later, Uka pleaded guilty to 19 criminal offenses, a deal that was accepted by the prosecution.

Two other charges were taken into consideration during sentencing, while the remaining charges will remain on file.

On July 14, at Maidstone Crown Court, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Detective Constable Celia King said: "This was a complex investigation which demonstrates the perseverance and dedication of officers over more than two years."

"Due to the time intervals between the thefts and the different locations where they occurred, it was a detailed process to formally link them through forensic evidence and attribute them to a single person, Uka."

"Once he was identified, there were further difficulties in locating him, as it was believed that he only carried out this series of thefts in England during the winter months."

"Uka showed no remorse for his victims. He would break into homes, leave a mess and even steal items of sentimental value. In one case, the victim was inside the house when he broke in, which must have been a terrifying experience for him."

"I am pleased that he is now behind bars and that years of work have paid off."