A cocaine addict found with an extensive toolkit for thieving has been warned he faces a long spell behind bars.

Mark Scamp’s stash of equipment - which included bolt croppers and false licence plates - was found in his car by police after he was pulled over in Canterbury.

Among the stash was also a log-splitting axe and a device to reprogram vehicle fob keys - technology typically used by car thieves.

The 38-year-old was arrested and later charged with going equipped for theft, as well as stealing a bicycle and fraudulently using a stolen bank card.

Details of his crimewave were revealed at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court, where he admitted all of the offences.

The first occurred on February 1, when Scamp used bolt cutters to steal a bike locked up at a car park in Sturry Road, Canterbury.

He was seen riding off on it and it was never recovered.

On April 26 he was then pulled over while driving a Ford Focus in the city, with officers searching the car and discovering his assortment of thieving tools.

Almost three months later, on July 14, Scamp used a stolen bank card to buy a bottle of coke and cigarettes worth £67 from a Co-op in Minster.

He then tried to purchase items valued at almost £100 from another store, but the card was declined.

Neil Sweeney, prosecuting, told the court the owner of the card, which was taken from a car in Aylesham, was refunded the cash by his bank.

He added that Scamp had previous convictions and at the time of the most recent offence was in breach of a suspended prison sentence.

In April he had been given a four-month term, suspended for a year, for going equipped for theft after he was found with bolt croppers in Epson, Surrey, in 2021.

Mr Sweeney added: “He’s also been in prison before - he served a 16-month sentence for vehicle interference.”

District Judge Justin Barron heard Scamp led a chaotic lifestyle because of substance misuse.

He was told the thief was still using cocaine but wanted to tackle his drug issues.

Judge Barron decided to send Scamp to Canterbury Crown Court for sentencing, issuing him a stark warning as he remanded him in custody at the hearing on August 9.

“There is a continuing pattern and you have not stopped offending,” he said.

“You are looking at a lengthy sentence.”

A date for sentencing has yet to be fixed.