A humble tin of Quality Street played a major part in snaring a footballer who broke into the home of an amputee.

Stuart Taylor skulked round Kevin Fitzgerald’s home while he was in Maidstone Hospital overnight after collapsing.

While he was in an ambulance coming home the next day his girlfriend Nicola Rolph called and told him about the intruder.

Prosecutor Kieran Brand said Miss Rolph had gone to the house in Gatland Lane, Maidstone, in July with her daughter and her dog, but the animal started going mad.

She saw a hooded man jump from the wet room window and run off. Mr Fitzgerald discovered an iPhone missing.

A fingerprint on a Quality Street tin matched with Taylor, who Maidstone Crown Court was told played football for Tonbridge United.

The 26-year-old, of Cambridge Crescent, Shepway, admitted burglary. He has 36 previous convictions mainly for theft and in 2014 was jailed for eight months for looting a home in Yalding left empty after flooding.

He has been jailed for two years.

Jagmohan Takk, defending, said the offence was opportunistic. Taylor had been addicted to heroin since a teenager.

Mr Takk said Taylor had a girlfriend and two children in East Malling but could not live with them because of his addiction.

“He has had drug rehabilitation twice,” said Mr Takk. “He has not been able to comply. He knows he will not be able to comply with orders.

“He does want to live a law-abiding life. He is able to work but the drug problem is something he can’t rid himself of at the current time.”

Mr Takk said there was talk of Taylor going semi-professional in football, but it never happened because of drugs.

Judge Michael Carroll said: “He knew his victim was an amputee. To my mind that is appalling. He has pleaded guilty and that is all the mitigation I can find.”

Additional reporting by Michael Thompsett