Four days after being released from a jail sentence a repeat burglar broke into a home at night as a family slept, a court heard.

Craig Graham took laptop computers and two sets of car keys and then stole a Vauxhall Zafira from outside the house in Gravesend.

The 30-year-old drug addict later crashed the car into a fence trying to escape from police.

Graham, of no fixed address, was jailed for three years and three months after admitting burglary, aggravated car-taking and having no insurance.

He was banned from driving for three years, to start at the end of the prison term.

Graham faced a minimum three-year sentence having committed two previous house burglaries.

Maidstone Crown Court heard he was released from a sentence on October 19 last year. On October 23 he broke into the home in Nansen Road, where there were children asleep.

“The children have been shaken and frightened by the knowledge someone came into their home at night,” said Recorder Mark Van Der Zwart. “I sense you are ashamed of this and remorseful.

“The Zafira was worth £2,900. By the time you had finished it was worth nothing at all, because you wrote it off.”

The burglary victims were devastated and their children were so frightened they went to stay with grandparents.

Graham’s fingerprints were on the Zafira and his DNA was on a cable he took.

Craig Evans, for Graham, said the father-of-two had been addicted to drugs since the age of 16.

“He recognises what he needs to do to address this vicious cycle,” he said. “He came out to nothing and there was a sense of hopelessness. He needs assistance to avoid a relapse.”

Investigating officer Detective Constable Steven Brown said: "Everyone should expect to feel safe and free from harm in their home and Graham has deprived the victim of this basic right.

"Burglary is an offence that can have a long lasting impact on victims and the sentence Graham has received reflects the harm he has caused."