Restaurant staff were in for a shock when they arrived at work this morning to find a suspected burglar asleep in bed.

Christi’s Bar and Restaurant in Maidstone was targeted last night.

The man allegedly threw a barrel of cooking oil through the front window of the St Faith’s Street eatery before trashing both floors and collecting more than £1,000 of loot.

A holdall, which contained three watches, half a bottle of Belvedere vodka, an employee’s passport and an iPad among other items, was left by the front door.

A second sack was found upstairs, while attempts had been made to steal a till.

However, it all proved to be too exhausting for the suspected crook and he fell asleep in the upstairs bedroom only to be stirred from his slumber by three bemused employees at 9am.

Alex Buckwell, who has owned the venue for two years, said: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw him lying there, he was acting like he was on drugs and when he realised what was happening came at me with a screw driver.”

The 23-year-old added the staff were able to restrain the suspect until the police arrived. Forensics officers were also called to the scene and left just after 10.30am.

“I don’t understand why he didn’t just leave with the stuff he had or why he chose the window on the main street as his entry point. Why would you fall asleep?” — Alex Buckwell

The business, which was previously known as Nelson’s, has closed and is soon to be developed into three homes.

Mr Buckwell, who only returned from a holiday in Turkey yesterday morning, added: “I suppose he thought the place was uninhabited, although when he got to the bedroom he must have realised people were still living here.

“I don’t understand why he didn’t just leave with the stuff he had or why he chose the window on the main street as his entry point. Why would you fall asleep?”

A Kent Police spokesman said: “Kent Police was called to St Faith’s Street at 9.12am on Thursday after receiving reports of a disturbance.

“Officers attended the scene and arrested a 35-year-old man from Tunbridge Wells on suspicion of burglary.

“The man is currently is custody.”