An incompetent thief who unveiled his identity on numerous occasions during a one-man crime spree has been jailed after falling asleep at a victim's home.

Joseph Scott, who has more than 100 previous convictions, also infuriated a pub landlord by swiping his prized hanging basket displays in Wincheap, Canterbury.

The 34-year-old then crept through a woman’s window at night and snatched her purse, while committing the string of offences between June and July this year.

Scott, of Canterbury, was jailed for three years and seven months at Canterbury Crown Court on Wednesday.

The beginning of his persistent criminality was signalled following a bid to feed a “long term drug addiction” in “a depressing story all too familiar,” his lawyer argued.

The court heard Scott snatched £265 worth of razors and alcohol from Waitrose in St George’s Place on June 26, with staff identifying him to police.

He had been handed a six month prison sentence suspended for two years just a fortnight beforehand.

Scott then stole a credit card from a motorist’s vehicle in Whittsable to fraudulently procure £90 worth of goods from a Canterbury petrol station, while in full view of CCTV on June 27, prosecutors said.

Later, Scott and an unidentified accomplice tore down a trio hanging baskets weighing 15kgs each from the Maiden’s Head pub in Wincheap, again while being filmed.

Speaking to KentOnline at the time, landlord Jeremy Stirling said the pub “prides itself” on the “particularly good looking” displays.

He said the damage worth £135 was disheartening given the amount of “nurturing, feeding and watering.”

“It’s just local hooligans being idiots,” he added.

While Mr Stirling appealed for witnesses on KentOnline and social media, Waitrose staff caught Scott swiping £350 worth of meat from the Canterbury store.

He burgled bank cards, a purse and laptop from a woman’s home, as she slept with her partner, in the St Dunstan’s area after sneaking through a window the same night.

Scott also stole laundry detergent, crisps, meat and fish worth £130 from the city’s Sainsbury’s supermarket.

But his criminal activity would soon come to an end after he used stolen bank cards on four occasions in different shops to buy £350 worth of goods in view of CCTV.

Last week, Scott asked Judge Simon Taylor KC to take into consideration a separate theft and burglary offence.

The hearing heard Scott forced his way into a Canterbury home and slept the night while the occupants were away, then he stole their mobile phone.

Scott, who has 123 previous convictions, admitted multiple thefts and fraud offences at the earliest opportunity.

Representing Scott, Phil Rowley said his criminal record was “borne of a long term drug addiction,” in a “depressing story all too familiar to the court.”

He added Scott, of Bingley Court, was working to address his issues.

Judge Taylor handed Scott three years and one month custody and activated a six month suspended sentence in full.

He told Scott his burglary victim was “mortified that someone had been able to enter her address and take her belongings.”