A dozy burglar broke into a house at night while wearing a satellite tag which could track his every movement, a court heard.

Police were able to place Jason Farmer at the scene of the break-in in the early hours and promptly arrested him.

Now, the 23-year-old with a long history of committing burglaries has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Farmer agreed to be fitted with the “Buddy Tag” after he was released on licence from a sentence at High Down Prison in Banstead, Surrey, in August last year.

Prosecutor Bridget Todd said a burglary was committed at a house in Sandling Road, Maidstone, four months laster on December 23 while the occupants were asleep in bed.

When they awoke they saw that a candle had been lit and then discovered two laptop computers worth a total of £1,000 had been taken. Entry was been gained through a fanlight in the conservatory.

Miss Todd said Farmer had agreed to participate in the relatively new Buddy tagging system which showed him leaving his then home at Tennyson Lodge in James Whatman Way, Maidstone, at 2.38am and being in the garden of the burgled home at 3.09am.

When police arrested him they found the two stolen laptops, one of which contained a “lifetime” collection of photos, and a mobile phone taken in another burglary in Hillary Road, Penenden Heath, six days earlier.

"Thankfully, we were able to quickly identify Farmer as the suspect and ensure that he was brought into custody within four hours of the homeowners discovering they had been burgled..." - DC Raj Dusanjh

Farmer, now of no fixed address, admitted burglary and handling the mobile phone.

Miss Todd said Farmer had numerous previous convictions including eight for house burglaries and seven taken into consideration.

He was a “three strikes” burglar which qualified him for a three-year minimum prison sentence.

Philip Sinclair, defending, said Farmer’s first conviction was at the age of 13.

“He has had convictions ever since,” said Mr Sinclair. “He has no explanation as to why he keeps re-offending. He had been on licence for several months and was apparently doing well.

“He made himself available for satellite tracking with a Buddy Tag. He knew if he re-offended he would be caught. He went out in the middle of the night and committed the offence.

“He has committed a burglary knowing he would be caught. He is not giving me any clue as to why he keeps re-offending. It may be he is hiding a drug habit but he is not admitting it.

“He has been sentenced relatively firmly twice for house burglaries and it hasn’t done any good at all. I was rather hoping for some clue as to why it’s happening.

“He said he wanted to buy his mother a Christmas present. There is clearly something going on. He is not doing it because he is wicked.”

Recorder Deborah Charles told Farmer the victims had been forced to spend Christmas making police statements, rather than enjoying themselves.

“They are disturbed someone was in their house while they were asleep,” she said. “What you did effectively ruined their plans for Christmas. You made them feel unsafe in their own home.

“At the time you were participating in the Buddy tagging system and the police were able to trace your movements. You had little option but to accept you were at the address.

“You have become a career burglar and you are only 23. All that can really be said on your behalf is you have pleaded guilty.

“Given that you were caught red-handed, some judges would not bear that in mind.”

Recorder Charles added that she could not have been criticised if she made the sentences of three-and-half years for burglary and six moths for handling consecutive instead of concurrent.

After the sentencing, Detective Constable Raj Dusanjh said: "Being a victim of a burglary is distressing enough, but for it to happen the day before Christmas day is especially upsetting.

"Thankfully, we were able to quickly identify Farmer as the suspect and ensure that he was brought into custody within four hours of the homeowners discovering they had been burgled.

"This is a good result for us, and a good result for the victims, who have had their laptop computers returned and have now seen the offender receive a custodial sentence."

---

Stories you might have missed

Manslaughter arrest in connection with river death

Drink-drive teen banned after crashing into two classic Minis

Owner defends 999 call after cat trapped in clothes dryer

Health problems led to man shooting himself

---