Two masked and armed burglars at a house in Elvington left police a huge clue about who was responsible for taking part in the £20,000 jewellery raid.

When officers arrived at the house in Adelaide Road last December they discovered a mobile phone which had been used by the thieves as a torch.

And when forensic experts downloaded the phone’s details, they discovered its number and the letters ‘TAJ’.

Now one of the gang Tajah Stevens, 34, has received a seven-year jail sentence after admitting a charge of aggravated burglary.

He claimed he was just the look out – but refused to name any other members of the gang.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how the thieves had armed themselves with a crowbar and hammer before smashing their way into the occupied house last December, leaving the homeowner fearing she was having a heart attack.

Prosecutor Silas Reid told how the two men then confronted the woman telling her “keep quiet” – after pointing at the crowbar.

"She was on her own, in her own home when two masked men burst in carrying weapons. She was so terrified she thought she was going to have a heart attack on the spot" - Judge Rupert Lowe

The raiders, wearing masks and gloves, then searched and found the safe under the stairs before snatching jewellery worth more than £20,000.

But as they searched the property, one of the burglars used the mobile phone’s torch app to help him look for jewellery... but then left it as he fled with the loot.

Mr Reid said that police officers were called to the house and found the phone – which the victim revealed was not hers.

The court heard how the thieves had travelled from Berkshire to Kent to carry out the attack, which had left the victim “very shaken”, added Mr Reid.

Stevens, from Slough, was arrested and admitted his part but refused to name any accomplices, who have not yet been arrested. The thief claimed he took part to pay off a drugs debt and his family had received threats but was now remorseful for his part in the daytime burglary.

Judge Rupert Lowe told him the armed attack had left the victim terrified.

“She was on her own, in her own home when two masked men burst in carrying weapons. She was so terrified she thought she was going to have a heart attack on the spot.

“This was a targeted burglary as you came from Berkshire and you have given no details of who else was involved or what happened to the money and jewellery.

“You say you were the look out and there is insufficient evidence to confirm that you were one of the two men who entered the property.

“But you must have known the others were masked, gloved and carried weapons. These men were willing to use violence to steal from the home owner.”