A JUDGE has criticised police after a couple were forced to turn detective to help solve a burglary at their home.

Officers were called to a house in Westbrooke Avenue, Margate, after the owner discovered a break-in in August.

But Canterbury Crown Court heard that the officers failed to find burglary tools left behind by the thief.

A judge has now ordered a full investigation into what he called a "crassly negligent" probe by police at Margate.

Prosecutor Eunice Shang-Simpson said the owner Mr Hollands and his family had been on a camping holiday and returned to discover two windows broken in their conservatory.

Three days after the break-in, Mrs Hollands found a screwdriver and a pick axe that didn't belong to the family.

Forensic evidence on the items led to the arrest of Phillipe Colley, who was living in a hostel in Cliftonville. He admitted the break-in and told officers about four other burglaries.

Judge Timothy Nash: "I am saddened by what this couple had to do. It is the duty of the scene of crimes officer to obtain evidence and the evidence was there.

"It brings great shame on the East Kent section of the force. Many would say that failure to pick up evidence by looking in the surrounding area was crassly negligent."

After jailing Colley, who admitted five burglaries, for 18 months, the judge ordered an investigation into the incident.

He also recommended that Mr and Mrs Hollands receive an apology from the police.