A prolific teenage burglar has been locked up after admitting a string of offences, including stealing bicycles which he was seen riding the next day.

The Faversham youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced at Canterbury Magistrates' Court on June 18 to eight months in a Young Offenders' Institution.

He had pleaded guilty to burgling a shed in Railway Avenue, Whitstable, overnight on April 24 and stealing two bicycles worth a total of £685.

He was caught riding one of the stolen bicycles the following day.

He also admitted to a charge of criminal damage in connection with attempting to damage a street light in Faversham on October 9 last year, as well as damaging the window of a marked police car on the A2 on March 18 this year.

The teenager had punched the window while he was sitting in the back of the car following his arrest, shattering it.

He admitted a further charge of failing to comply with a youth rehabilitation order, which had been made on April 7 after he was convicted of an earlier burglary in St Nicholas Road in Faversham on January 4.

Inspector Gavin Wade of the Swale Policing Team said: "This teenager caused misery for a number of people, as well as making a nuisance of himself in his community.

"I hope he'll use his time behind bars wisely to think about the impact his actions have on others.

"This might be the wake-up call he needs to know that Kent Police absolutely will not tolerate these crimes being committed on our streets and that he will be caught, arrested and brought before the court to answer for his behaviour."