Place all ingredients in a deep sided saucepan and cook over a medium heat, stirring until the berries begin to release their juices and the sugar dissolves.
Bring the mixture to a boil and allow to continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until it reaches 220°F (105C) on a sugar thermometer.
Remove from the heat and pour into a shallow heatproof dish or jar to cool. Use tongs or a fork to carefully remove the bay leaves.