A burglar who broke into a Herne Bay home and stole a car has been jailed for 32 months.

Stephen McIntyre, 20, admitted swiping the keys to the Renault Megane from a house in Coventry Gardens, Beltinge.

Hours later he was spotted by unmarked officers driving the car erratically around Ramsgate.

He managed to avoid arrest by racing away along Broadstairs Road, but after abandoning the car was later arrested at his home in High Street, Ramsgate.

An police investigation found McIntyre had stolen the car keys and cash from the house on June 24.

He admitted the theft at an earlier hearing and on Wednesday was jailed at Canterbury Crown Court.

Detective Sergeant Neil Watford said: "McIntyre was positively identified by the officers in the unmarked patrol car as he drove erratically around Ramsgate.

"McIntyre made off, thinking he had avoided arrest, but we located him again and brought him into custody.

"Thanks to some good old-fashioned police work the true extent of McIntyre’s night of offending came to light.

"I’m pleased with the court’s sentencing – it sends a message that crime in Kent will not be tolerated."