A roofer who turned burglar when he raided the property he was working on was attacked by a friend of the owner when he returned to the house the next day.

Lee Fideghelli stole jewellery worth thousands while helping
to replace the roof of a semi-detached house in Dennis Road, Gravesend.

The 37-year-old was jailed for three years for the break-in but Maidstone Crown Court heard he had suffered painful retribution for returning to the home the next day.

Unbeknown to the jury, Fideghelli was assaulted by a friend of the homeowners when he had the nerve to return to the house in Dennis Road to carry on working.

His barrister, Michael Epstein, told the court Fideghelli’s attacker was charged for what was believed to be a headbutt and received a conditional discharge.

Fideghelli, of Walks Way, Sittingbourne, denied burglary but was convicted last month.

Sentencing was adjourned as he faced another trial for attempted burglary in Sheerness, also in May last year.

However the court decided this week that this offence would be taken into consideration as Fideghelli was also awaiting sentence for burglary and theft of power tools in December 2013 and possession of amphetamine in November 2013.

Fideghelli was therefore jailed for a further six months consecutive, making a total of three-and-a-half years for all the offences.

The court heard Fideghelli was working as a labourer when he burgled the Gravesend property.

He had been at the three-bedroom house for a day when he used a crowbar to force open a rear kitchen door, twisting the door frame and then kicking in a bottom panel.

A bloodstain matching Fideghelli was also found below the door handle and among several marks left by the crowbar.

Fideghelli was one of two men who started the work on April 30 last year. At first they did not have any access to the property, but were later allowed access to the garage by the homeowners.

Work stopped early on the second day because of the weather but, instead of being dropped at home, Fideghelli asked his boss to drop him in Gravesend town centre.

He said he was going to meet his brother-in-law for a drink but prosecutor Danny Moore said the plan was “already forming in his mind” to burgle the property.

About an hour later, a witness saw a man running out of Dennis Road and in to Wrotham Road, carrying a silver-coloured drawstring bag in which metal objects could be heard clashing, added Mr Moore.

It was only when the owner returned home at 3.40pm that day that she discovered the break-in.

Fideghelli was accused of stealing jewellery totalling £6,150 but the items were later valued at £23,000 by insurers.

Damage to the door totalled £2,000.

After his arrest, Fideghelli told police the bloodstain could have been caused by a nosebleed or blister on his hand.