A 21-year-old pregnant woman burgled 11 bungalows in seven months stealing thousands of pounds in cash and jewels.

And when intruder Charlotte Binnersley was confronted by a Herne Bay householder she faked going into labour to escape.

When the eight-month pregnant single woman was finally caught - she confessed to sneaking into other homes, Canterbury Crown Court heard.

Binnersley, of High Street, Herne Bay, is the daughter of a retired solicitor and has two brothers, one a lawyer and the other a policeman.

Her barrister William Hays said: "She had a happy upbringing, which gave her many advantages which her family hoped would lead to a full and rich life.

"These offences have sunk her to the opposite extreme. She has described her behaviour as disgusting.

"She wasn’t brought up to behave this way."

Binnersley - who gave birth to a boy four months ago, admitted two break-ins and asked for another nine to be considered.

She also admitted further charges of stealing from her boyfriend, his father and aunt and fraudulently selling the jewellery.

The new mum - who raided homes throughout her pregnancy - broke down and wept as she was jailed for 18 months.

Judge Simon James told her that he was sending her to prison "with a heavy heart" because of the fact the child was so young.

"But there are aggravating features to your burglaries and I feel compelled to pass a custodial sentence," he added.

Prosecutor Anthony Prosser told how she had stolen jewellery and cash valued at nearly £8,000 - and raised more than £4,000 by selling the stolen property.

He added many of the items of jewellery had “serious” sentimental value, including some which had belonged to the dead daughter of a grieving family.

Only some of the items have since been recovered.

Mr Prosser said that last year, she had targeted bungalows in Herne Bay breaking in through open windows and making “a tidy” search for cash or jewellery.

Some of her victims hadn’t realised they have been burgled because she had been so tidy, he added.

Binnersley raided homes in Lower Herne Road, Upper Free Down and Strode Park, where she was confronted by the homeowner - it was then she claimed she was going into labour.

And as the householder went to ring the police, she walked out of the front door, the court heard.

Mr Hays claimed that Binnersley had borrowed £1,000 from a loan shark and was under pressure to repay more than £4,000.

He said: "She is thoroughly ashamed of herself by what she has done.

"She was in debt to someone and in this day and age it is a salutary lesson what can happen to those who borrow money - to sink to such depths.

"She is extremely sorry from the bottom of her heart - and those are her words," he added.

The court heard that Robert Boucher, her boyfriend, and father of her child, is standing by her - and “she hopes to rekindle the relationship after her release,” said Mr Hays.