A prolific burglar who targeted a snooker club and bowls club has been jailed after police say his recognisable neck tattoo gave him away.

Dale Pearson, of Tudeley Lane, Tonbridge, stole £120 of coins from a snooker club cash register in Buckland Hill, Maidstone, on Tuesday, May 24.

Moments later he walked to a nearby bowls club and broke a window to enter the building, but left empty handed.

He was also spotted on CCTV breaking into a porch along the Maidstone road.

The burglaries were reported the following morning and investigators examined footage in the area.

They found images of him outside the snooker club and entering the porch in Buckland Hill.

Local officers identified Pearson from a distinctive tattoo on his neck, and forensic examination at the first break-in recovered his fingerprint from inside the cash register.

Pearson was arrested on June 21 and later charged with three burglaries.

The 28-year-old pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court yesterday and was sentenced to two years and 146 days’ imprisonment.

Detective Constable Chris Welham, of Maidstone CID, said: "Pearson is a prolific burglar and his criminal record was a consideration when he was sentenced.

"He did not consider the effect his actions would have on the victims, who were targeted in the hours of darkness, and was purely focused on stealing anything of value during his crime spree.

"A jail term is entirely appropriate in these circumstances."