A fraudster who pretended to be deaf to steal people's smartphones has been locked up.

Dumitrou Marin posed as a "pushy and aggressive" charity collector and invaded people's personal space to distract them while he snatched their valuables.

The 27-year-old targeted people in high streets across Kent, including Maidstone, Chatham, Sittingbourne, Canterbury, Dover and Thanet.

Marin, of Allington Avenue, Nottingham, used objects such as clipboards and newspapers to hide his victims' belongings from view.

On January 12, he stole £150 in King Street Maidstone, and smartphones in Chatham High Street, Sittingbourne High Street, East Street in Faversham, Harbour Street in Whitstable and Herne Bay High Street.

"He would pretend to be deaf in an attempt to prey on the good nature of his victims" - PC Danny James

The following day, he stole smartphones in St George's Street, Canterbury, Dover High Street and Ramsgate High Street.

Attempts to steal smartphones failed on the same day in Market Street, Sandwich, Stanhope Road, Deal, and Station Road, Birchington.

Then on February 25, smartphones were taken in London Road, Tunbridge Wells and Crowborough High Street.

Crimes were also committed in Sussex.

Marin was arrested following an investigation by police's Operation Jupiter team, which tackles criminal gangs who often travel into Kent from other areas.

Officers were able to link Marin with CCTV footage captured at several of the crime scenes as well as a Volkswagen Passat they could prove was in Medway, Maidstone and Canterbury on the days offences were committed in those towns.

He has now been jailed for 17 months after admitting 16 offences at Maidstone Crown Court.

Investigating officer PC Danny James said: "In almost all of these cases Dumitrou Marin presented himself as a pushy and aggressive charity collector, invading his victims' personal space while he or an accomplice stole their smartphones.

"He would pretend to be deaf in an attempt to prey on the good nature of his victims and convince people he was legitimate, which in itself is deeply offensive.

"I am pleased with the sentence imposed on Marin and hope this teaches him a lesson that crime does not pay."