A 27 year-old man has started a three year prison sentence after pleading guilty to a burglary in Tunbridge Wells.

Peter Harlow broke into a house in Oakdale Road on Wednesday, December 11 and stole jewellery and a mobile phone.

Later that day a police inspector and constable were on foot patrol in Tunbridge Wells town centre and saw Harlow acting suspiciously.

Prior to being stopped he was seen dumping a mobile phone in a bin. The phone was seized and later identified as being from the house in Oakdale Road that had been burgled and Harlow was arrested.

The next day an officer visited a local jewellers and located two rings and a gold chain that Harlow had sold to the store, using his debit card as identification.

The items were seized and, having been confirmed as belonging to the burglary victim, were returned to the owner.

Harlow was charged with burglary and pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday, January 3.

Investigating officer, Detective Constable Mark Ansdell said: “Some great instinct by patrol officers lead to Harlow being promptly arrested for this crime.

“Initially he said that he had been given the phone and was throwing it away as it didn’t work but later pleaded guilty at court.

“Fortunately in this case we have been able to recover valuable property and return it to its rightful owner, as well as locking up the offender for three years.”

District police commander Chief Inspector Dave Pate said: “The sentencing is a reflection on how seriously we all take the crime of burglary.

“Intruding in to peoples’ homes can have untold effects on the lives of the victims. We will relentlessly pursue all these who choose to commit this crime.”