When thieves raided a shed near a Ramsgate woman's home, she turned to neighbours for suggestions of who might be responsible.

They told Claire Bain that Axl Parker was the likely culprit, so she turned sleuth and checked out his Facebook page.

And there the "low, nasty thief" had happily posted a picture of himself with a drinks optic (similar to one pictured left) in the background.

Claire took a closer look at the social networking site - and realised she recognised the optic as one stolen from her shed.

Now 19-year-old Parker has been given a three-month suspended jail sentence after admitting breaking into six sheds in Chapel Road and Wilfred Road.

Jim Harvey, prosecuting, told Canterbury Crown Court how Parker targeted the sheds – taking a bike from an 11-year-old boy and tools belonging to the late husband of another resident.

Victim Tracy Adams had her son's bike stolen, which had now left the child feeling afraid to sleep in his bedroom.

She later told police: "How can you tell your 11-year-old son that his bike is stolen? He has been greatly affected. His bedroom overlooks the garden and he no longer wants to sleep there in case this man comes back."

The prosecutor said Ms Bain consulted friends after her shed was raided.

"Someone suggested Parker. She went onto Facebook to his page and on his profile picture, in the background she saw an optic which had been stolen from her shed."

"i wonder if you ever stop and think about that 11-year-old boy or wondered how it feels to have your bike stolen; or think about the widow whose late husband's tools you took…?” – judge james o'mahony

Police later raided Parker's home and discovered many of the items stolen during the break-ins, including the optic and a leaf-blower - but he was not at home.

He later spoke to officers on the phone and told them: 'Come and find me... peace, out' before hanging up.

Parker, of The Cuttings, Ramsgate, was arrested five days later.

Peter Forbes, defending, said Parker stole to feed his cocaine habit, but has since "radically changed his drugs habit".

Mr Forbes added: "He now lives with his father who is pretty tough on drugs and won't tolerate it. He welcomes that."

Judge James O'Mahony said that highly-addictive drugs often turned people into "low, nasty thieves who steal children's bikes".

The judge added: "I wonder if you ever stop and think about that 11-year-old boy or wondered how it feels to have your bike stolen; or think about the widow whose late husband's tools you took? How low does it get?"

Parker was given a three-month jail sentence - suspended for two years - and ordered to take a six-month programme to deal with his drugs habit.