A man who targeted an elderly woman has been jailed for five years.

Christopher Swanson, of Peony Crescent, Sittingbourne, was jailed after a jury at Maidstone Crown Court found him guilty of attempted burglary.

They heard how on the evening of January 26 the victim, who is in her 90s, was at her Sittingbourne home.

She noticed her letterbox was open at about 7.30pm and looked outside but there was nobody there.

Having gone to bed she woke up at about 5.40am and realised her side gate had been forced open and her wheelie bin had been moved underneath a window.

On March 24, at 5.10am, the victim was woken by noises outside her home and at 5.30am a man knocked to say he had chased off some teenagers who were trying to break in. He handed her a security light and said they had pulled it off.

This man was later identified as Christopher Swanson.

He told the woman he was concerned for her safety and asked to check her home. She let him in and walked around with him until he left.

"He fabricated a story in order to gain her trust" - DC Michael Kingwell

At this point she realised her purse was missing which contained cash.

Following this, police confirmed Swanson’s DNA had been at the house following the incident in January.

He was arrested on April 7 and charged later the same day.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Michael Kingwell said: "Swanson has a history of targeting elderly victims in order to burgle their homes and went to great lengths to steal from this lady’s house by targeting the house on more than one occasion.

"He fabricated a story in order to gain her trust and to enter her house and I’m pleased that this sentence reflects the seriousness of his offending."