A serial burglar who raided the home of an 81-year-old woman has been given a 12-year jail sentence.

Judge James O'Mahony told James Kelly that his 20-year criminal record meant he deserved a "severe sentence".

Kelly, of Perrot Way, Hawkinge, broke into two houses in Folkestone after being released early from a seven-year jail sentence.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how the 38-year-old began his thieving in 1994 and since then committed frequent break-ins in Scotland, Newcastle upon Tyne and now Kent.

In 2007, he was given a five-year sentence and four years later received a seven-year term at Canterbury.

In March, after his release from prison, he broke into a house in Hollands Avenue where the 81-year-old householder was watching TV.

The victim's son found a window open and saw Kelly rifling through a table in the bedroom.

The two men began grappling. Kelly pinned the man against a wall before escaping with the woman's handbag.

The court heard how three days later, he broke into a house in Hill Road in Folkestone.

After snatching jewellery and a laptop, Kelly also took the keys to the owner’s Ford Focus and escaped in the stolen vehicle.

Kelly, who was later caught and sent back to prison to serve the rest of his earlier sentence, admitted two burglaries and theft.

Judge O’Mahony told him: “It is very clear that you couldn’t care less about the misery you caused your victims.

“The time has come for you to have passed upon you a severe sentence.”