A bold as brass burglar has been jailed after his victim found him strolling down her stairs.

David McQuilliams, of Rowan Lea, Chatham, admitted one count of burglary and was sentenced to just over three years in prison

On March 4, McQulliams entered an address in Magpie Hall Road. The female owner had popped into the garden but came back into the house when she heard her dog barking.

That is when she saw McQuilliams, 51, casually walking down her stairs, calling out the name Kelly.

When his victim challenged him, McQulliams claimed he had been there looking for a previous resident.

That is when she saw McQuilliams, 51, casually walking down her stairs, calling out the name Kelly.

He promised her he had not taken anything but she made him leave and called the police.

When police officers arrived, patrols recognised the victim's description as McQuilliams, who has a number of previous convictions for burglary.

He was arrested and later picked out of an identity parade.

DC Aaron Chapman, said: "McQuilliams is an opportunistic career criminal who was totally unflustered when his victim caught him in her home.

"I welcome the news he will be behind bars for the coming months. He is a deceitful and manipulative individual and it is only through our victim's quick-thinking and the extensive local knowledge of Medway officers that he was apprehended."

McQuilliams was sentenced to 40 months in jail at Maidstone Crown Court.