A habitual burglar who swiped a dying man’s funeral fund from his home has been told he faces an "overwhelming likelihood” of prison.

Terminally-ill Terry Price hid about £3,000 in his Ramsgate property to pay for his funeral, to help alleviate the financial burden from his loved ones.

But while the 66-year-old was shopping, Mark Queen, 31, raided the cancer sufferer’s home in early November.

Queen, of Margate, admitted one count of domestic burglary during a plea and trial preparation hearing at Canterbury Crown Court today.

He denied the original charge of conspiracy to burgle.

Judge Simon James told Queen, who has committed a total of three burglaries, to expect an “overwhelming likelihood” of a prison sentence.

Queen, of Gordon Road, appeared remotely from HMP Elmley after being held on remand following his arrest in November.

Wearing a dark shirt, he spoke only to confirm his name, age and plea.

Another suspect, Paris Campbell-Mitchell, was arrested in December and charged with conspiracy to burgle in relation to the same incident.

The 26-year-old, of Ramsgate, was released on bail and is due before Margate Magistrates’ Court on January 19.

Queen and Campbell-Mitchell are expected to appear at Canterbury Crown Court on February 7.

Mr Price, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2019, previously told KentOnline: “The money was for my funeral and my wake at Fury’s bar and a few Christmas presents.

“I had saved it from my pension since I got my diagnosis.”

He told how, after leaving his home to go shopping for 45 minutes, he returned to find his savings “cleaned right out”.

“I came in and noticed stuff disturbed around my table and as soon as I looked underneath the bed I saw my tin had gone," he said.

"I just broke down because it was my funeral money, my wake money, and Christmas presents for the kids."

An online fundraising page set up by Mr Price's neighbour Zoe Norman to support him went viral.

The campaign intended to raise £500, but the total exceeded £8,000 from more than 400 supporters.

She wrote: “He's a great well-loved man in our small community. Unfortunately between our small numbers we aren't enough to bring his pot back up.

“He helped so many people in his time, wherever he could and at some times left himself short."