A burglar with a history of targeting elderly vulnerable victims is behind bars for six years for another dwelling house raid in which a woman of 72 and her lodger were disturbed in the middle of the night.

Driving instructor David Hines, 49, grappled with an intruder after being woken about 3.45am and the man fled in Mr Hines’ driving school car which was later found abandoned and badly damaged.

Getaway driver was Paul Ellis, 34, of South Street, Canterbury who, although he didn’t enter the bungalow at Stodmarsh Road, was convicted of burglary, aggravated vehicle taking and driving while disqualified.

He admitted common assault by spitting at a policeman after arrest which netted him a further four months.

It took the jury at Canterbury Crown Court less than 10 minutes to find Ellis guilty and Miss Recorder Jane Plumtre said Ellis had targetted the bungalow because it was a common feature of his past offences.

On 2007 he was jailed for three years for a burglary at the Hog and Donkey pub when money was stolen from an elderly man and had only been out on licence four months when he committed the December burglary.

The bungalow was fitted with CCTV which caught an image of a man in a distinctive hoodie.

Police found it in a search at Ellis’ home. He didn’t give evidence at his trial but told police in interview he knew nothing of the burglary and was at home with his wife at the time.

Prosecutor David Ross said it was a joint enterprise but no-one else has been arrested.

After the jury’s verdict, Ellis maintained his innocence through his lawyer who handed a letter from Ellis to the Recorder in which Ellis said he knew the occupants of the bungalow were upset because his mother-in-law was their neighbour and she told him they were very angry which had caused embarrassment for his family.

Miss Recorder Plumptre told Ellis she was satisfied he had targetted the bungalow because of what the letter said, adding: "I am afraid I cannot square that with a plea of not guilty and I am told you continue to deny the offences despite the unanimous verdict of the jury."

The burglary had traumatic effect on the elderly owner, artist Mrs Penelope Lewis, who witnessed Mr Hines’ violent struggle with the intruder. In an impact statement Mrs Lewis said she felt a sense of violation and was frightened of noise.

Mr Forbes said it was accepted Ellis faced a long sentence but it was never the Crown’s case that Ellis was involved in the violence.

He had a serious drug problem which was an explanation not an excuse, and had made steady progress since his last release.