A burglar has raided the home where one of the knights who killed Thomas Becket once lived.

Barham Court at Teston was where Reginald Fitz Urze resided more than 900 years ago before he fled to Ireland after the murder of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

A building in the grounds of the current Georgian Grade II listed property was targeted by thief Luke Stewart-Day overnight in May.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how the raiders smashed their way inside the brick building, damaging the roof after they put a cover over a CCTV camera.

They then stole £3,000 of power tools and caused more than £4,000 of damage.

Stewart-Day, 32, of Coombe Road, Maidstone, has now been told he faces going to jail after he admitted the burglary.

Barham Court, which also entertained reformer William Wilberforce as a guest, was re-modelled in the 18th century. It is now home to an events company and offices.

Matthew Simpson, prosecuting, said the power tools were taken in the raid and "a considerable amount of damage" was caused.

Judge Julian Smith said the damage to the building was so great he was surprised it didn’t collapse.

Daniel Cohen, defending, claimed the burglary was "a reckless mistake" but the judge retorted: “I don’t accept that. This was a carefully planned burglary.”

Judge Smith adjourned the hearing until October 28 and granted Stewart-Day - who has previous convictions for burglaries - bail.

This includes a home curfew between 11pm and 5am.

The judge told Stewart-Day: “This was a quite robust and carefully planned attack which caused considerable damage to the property.

“Although I am granting time for the preparation of a probation report you should expect a custodial sentence.”

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