A persistent burglar who twice targeted his sister’s home and also stole from his uncle and a family friend is still awaiting his fate.

Christopher Neaves appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday expecting to be sentenced for his catalogue of crime.

But the case was adjourned for at least another six weeks for a psychiatric report.

Neaves, of no fixed address, was remanded back in custody.

At an earlier hearing the 25-year-old admitted three offences of burglary and one of fraud. He also asked for four similar offences to be taken into consideration.

As a “three strikes” burglar, he faces a minimum sentence of three years behind bars.

But Judge Jeremy Carey said an unusual and “illogical” aspect of his anti-social offending was that it only started last year and was not motivated by either alcohol or drugs.

Neaves entered his sister Jennifer’s home at Bridge Cottages, Barrow Green, Teynham, on May 14 this year and stole a laptop and a DVD player.

He returned the following day and stole DVDs, £40 cash and sausages. Neaves was arrested a week later.

Property worth £425, stolen from the mobile home of family friend Sarah Wraight at Castlewood Farm in Barrow Green, was recovered.

The offences taken into consideration included thefts at his uncle’s house and stealing his father’s Citroen Saxo. Neaves crashed the car into a wall and sold it for scrap for £50.

In August last year he was given a suspended sentence for burgling a house in Wood Street, Lynsted, and stealing food and drink.

Prosecutor Keith Yardy said the victim was a 92-year-old woman for whom he and his father had worked.

Judge Carey said he had received an email from Mrs Wraight, who he described as a “remarkably balanced lady”.

She conceded that, despite having stolen from her, prison was unlikely to give Neaves the help he needed.

But he said: “We do not sentence according to what members of the public think appropriate. Most think a prison sentence, and a lengthy one, is appropriate.

“But sometimes there is a different opinion as in this case.”