A burglar has confessed to 25 house break-ins.

Steven Parker pleaded guilty to four burglaries and asked for 21 others to be taken into consideration.

Gemma Webb, prosecuting, told Ashford magistrates on Tuesday that Parker broke into homes in the early hours of the morning, often when the occupants were upstairs asleep.

Miss Webb added: “He says he committed the offences to clear a drug debt.”

Tony Harden, for Parker, said: “He has put his hand up. He wants to clear this up and get it sorted. He is fed up with running.”

The four burglaries Parker pleaded guilty to were on November 6 and 22 and two last Thursday.

Parker, 37, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody and magistrates committed him to sentencing at Maidstone Crown Court at a date to be fixed.

Outside court, South Kent Police said that the four burglaries were in the Kennington area and Parker was arrested on the day of the last two.

Officers said they are carrying out high visibility patrols because of the risk of increased burglaries in the run-up to the festive season.