A man burgled a hair salon in Ashford and then went door-to-door selling the stolen products.

But thief Stephen Cole knocked at the home of a friend of one of the salon’s bosses - who then took his picture!

And now a judge has heard how the raid on the Hair Salon in Hunters Road Ashford was one of six burglaries carried out by the 30-year-old and his gang.

They included two break-ins at houses where people were asleep; a dental surgery, a chemists and a hospice – in a spree from November 2016 to February this year.

Cole, of Brattle, Woodchurch, Ashford admitted the offences and has been jailed for three years at Canterbury Crown Court.

Judge Simon James told him: “These six burglaries involved you and others entering people’s homes while they were asleep and another involved you breaking into a hospice.

“It would seem that you and your gang were targeting charity boxes and on one occasion involved you causing gratuitous damage to premises.

“You were in fact arrested for the first burglary in December 2016 and as a result, all the other offences were carried out whilst you were on bail.”

Burglary one took place at a detached house in Western Avenue, Ashford at 6.24 on November 24 when neighbours spotted “a skinhead, together with others, carrying away a TV.

Prosecutor James Ross told how the elderly house owners were asleep in bed and only realised they had been targeted when police officers arrived.

A TV, a wallet, a handbag with £20, two watches and electrical items – costing the couple £470.

The owner told the police: “The incident has upset me and my wife, especially as an unknown person entered our home while we were asleep.”

Cole’s DNA was found at the scene and he was later arrested and given police bail.

Burglary two: On March 7 he targeted the Willesborough Health Centre, taking £900 worth of items including two charity boxes from the chemist’s section.

Mr Ross said Cole left his DNA on a screwdriver..but before he could be arrested again he broke into a Hair Salon in Hunter Road.

Burglary three: Cole and his pals stole £2000 worth hair products together with a mirror, a black case and scissors.

Mr Ross said that days later Cole showed up offering to sell the products to householders but came to a home owned by a particular woman.

“She was someone who knew one of the salon’s co-owners. This lady bought some of these products from him and took a photograph on her mobile.

“She took the items, including the black box, to the salon where the owner’s key was able to open it, thus proving it was the stolen box.”

After the woman noted a cut on Cole’s leg she offered a bandage and he agreed to return with the products the following day, apologising for being late because he couldn’t get to the bag because police were in the area!

Burglary four was at Romney House Family Dental Health Centre in Romney Road, Willesborough on January 30.

The owner Martin Jones told how one of the receptionists could hear running water when she arrived at work..causing up to £10,000 worth of damage.

Cole and the gang got away with a laptop, dentures and two more charity boxes for the Pilgrims Hospice.

Burglary five happened at a house in Ashburton Close in Ashford on February 3 when he raided a house after one of the victim’s had left for work.

His wife, Maureen was in bed asleep and when she awoke found her handbag with £800 worth of jewellery stolen.

Cole then went to the Pilgrims Hospice in Hythe Road, Ashford between February 3 and 6 when the gang escaped with nearly £1,870 worth of equipment, including a 50 inch TV, six towels, two £400 cameras, foreign currency and shopping vouchers.

On February 6 Cole called the police claiming he had been threatened by gang members and made to take part in the raids.

Judge Simon James told him some of the thieving had been “particularly mean” including deliberately targeting a charity boxes.