A man caught hiding under a blanket in the garden of a home he had just broken into has been jailed for eight months.

Przemek Chojnowski tried to conceal himself under a silver throw after being caught breaking into the Maidstone property by the owner in August.

The 26-year-old forced open a conservatory door with a spade and smashed a kitchen window at the Old Tovil Road house before trying to hide from officers, but was quickly located by a police dog.

A broken key was discovered in one of Chojnowski’s pockets, which he told officers was a key to his flat.

However a matching part of the broken key was later found next to the damaged conservatory door.

When interviewed Chojnowski, formerly of Greenford, Middlesex, denied any involvement in the burglary, claiming he had been visiting family in the area and had wandered into the garden and fallen asleep.

He went on to claim he found the key outside a supermarket and picked it up.

Chojnowski was sentenced to eight months in prison at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday, having previously pleaded guilty to burglary with intent to steal.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Neil Buckle said: "After he was arrested Chojnowski tried to dispose of the broken key by throwing it on the floor of a police car, but it was quickly recovered when we later realised the key’s significance to the investigation.

"Intruding into people’s homes can have devastating effects, but on this occasion the victim did the right thing and called police straight away, which led to us being able to quickly find the culprit and secure a successful conviction."