A money launderer caught red-handed with £1 million of gold bars, coins, designer watches and cash during a Valentine's Day raid on a London hotel has been jailed.

Cops found Stephen Burton, 55, formerly of Frieth Road, Marlow, in the hotel room with the gold bars, silver and gold coins, more than £70,000 in Sterling and euros, and five watches worth £110,000.

He also had 500 lottery tickets, two passports in his name but with different dates and countries of birth, and several other fake ID documents.

The detectives suspected that Burton bought the hoard to hide money earned through criminal activity.

He was arrested at the hotel and later charged with money laundering and the possession of false identity documents.

Burton, now of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, pleaded guilty to both offences and was sentenced to three years and 360 days in prison at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday.

Detective Inspector James Derham, of Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "The items found in Stephen Burton's hotel room are worth a tremendous amount of money but he could offer no explanation as to where that money came from.

"We strongly suspect the reason for that is because it was earned via unlawful means, and we are continuing to investigate how Burton came to be in possession of such valuable materials.

"Money laundering is a serious offence and we go to great lengths to ensure people who attempt to conceal the proceeds of crime are brought to justice.

"Burton has found out the hard way that if you break the law then no amount of riches will save you from being brought before the courts."