Brainless burglar Scott Barham pawned a stolen camcorder... using his prison licence and a bail notice as ID.

The 25-year-old was traced after turning up at a shop in central Canterbury with the Sony device and is now starting a 34-month jail sentence.

Barham, of Becket Avenue, appeared at Canterbury Crown Court where he admitted handing the stolen camcorder and burgling another house.

Prosecutor Donna East said thieves had broken into a home in Harbledown in June, stealing jewellery and the camera.

She said the next day Barham had gone to Cash Resolve, in Canterbury Lane, and pawned the item using his licence from HMP Wayland and his bail notice for other offences as proof of ID.

After the raid, police trawled second-hand shops for the stolen items and found that Barham had been captured on the shop's CCTV.

In September and while on bail for that offence, the professional burglar then raided the flat of a Nigerian student in Kemsdale Court, Park Wood, Canterbury.

Ms East said Kayira Okeke had arrived in the city just a day before the break-in to begin her studies.

Barham smashed his way into the flat and stole her £1,150-laptop and bag. Forensic experts later found a fingerprint on a window which matched Barham, the court heard.

He claimed he had been a cocaine and heroin addict, but had successfully weaned himself off his addiction during the time he has now spent in custody awaiting sentence.

His burglary conviction made him liable for a mandatory minimum three-year sentence under the three-strikes provisions.

The court heard that after serving his time inside he is now planning to get married and take up a career in welding.

He was sent to prison for 28 months plus another six months for the handling stolen goods.

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