A grieving mother returned from a buying a dress for her son’s funeral to find she’d been burgled and her bedroom ransacked.

She later discovered the intruder was a man who earlier called at her Ashford home to offer his condolences and had shared a remembrance drink with her.

In a statement read at Canterbury Crown Court, Helen Donohue described the actions of Daniel Washington as 'despicable.’

Washington, 46, of Ashdale Place, Churchyard, Ashford admitted the burglary at Lower Denmark Street and theft of property and asked for two further matters to be considered.

The court was told Washington was trying to control his drink problem by seeking help for his addiction and sentence was adjourned for reports. He was bailed to return for sentence on September 4.

Prosecutor Claire Cooper said Mrs Donohue’s son Danny had died sometime before November 5 and that evening she answered her door to see Washington who said he’d known Danny and offered his sympathy.

The next day she saw him sitting on a wall outside and invited him in for a drink then later went into town to buy a dress for the funeral.

As she approached her home she saw something which belonged to her on the floor with a towel and went in to find her bedroom had been ransacked.

Police matched Washington’s DNA from blood on window sill and he was circulated as wanted. He later surrendered to Ashford police station.

In a victim impact statement, Mrs Donohue said she was very stressed by the whole incident and was taking pills day and night. “For this person to burgle my house when he knew I was out buying a dress for my son’s funeral is a dispicable thing to do,” read the statement.

Washington had previous convictions and his lawyer, Christopher Harding, said Washington had struggled with his drink problem but had it under control until he lost his father just before Christmas and coupled with other pressures, couldn’t keep away from alcohol.

When he committed the burglary he was seriously intoxicated but had no clear recollection of it. Mr Harding, applying for bail, said Washington was still suffering effects of a recent assault and was waiting for an appointment for counselling.