A thief who preyed on an elderly and vulnerable man, stealing cash from him after carrying out work at his home, has been jailed for a year - and given a stern lecture by a judge.

Kalup Chapman and Samuel King repaired tiles at the 80-year-old victim’s house in Wolfe Road, Maidstone, in January.

But while in his home, Chapman callously stole about £400 from a bag.

Passing sentence, Judge Jeremy Carey said of the victim: “He was only able to manage with real difficulty even in his own home, and was certainly highly vulnerable.

“If ever there was a man, therefore, who should have your respect as a fellow human being as someone who should be protected, then it was him.

“Instead, you Kalup Chapman took advantage of his vulnerability having done some legitimate work on his house with Samuel King, and you saw your opportunity for easy pickings.

“You stole from him. You should be ashamed of yourself. Proof of whether you are will be in years to come if you have learnt your lesson from this wholly repugnant offending.

“One thing is for sure - you have made his life unhappy. He has lost his sense of safety. When you can’t feel safe in your own home what else at the age of 80 have you got left?”

Chapman, 26, of Battersea Road Caravan Park, Uckfield, East Sussex, admitted burglary and King, 26, of Henley Place, London Road, Teynham, near Sittingbourne, admitted handling the stolen money.

King was given three months imprisonment suspended for a year, 125 hours unpaid work and a three-month tagged curfew from 8pm to 6am.

He was told he had escaped immediate custody “by a whisker”. Both have previous convictions for dishonesty.

Maidstone Crown Court heard when the pair were arrested at a petrol station soon afterwards there was £1,075 in cash in the footwell of their car.

The judge ordered that £400 of the money should go to the victim as compensation and the remainder would be taken for court costs.

Prosecutor Bridget Todd said the victim told in a statement of feeling stupid and as if it was his fault. He added he must have been an easy target.