Horrified residents were left in "great distress" after spotting a burglar with a huge knife in a woman's garden.

Harry Holden was repeatedly seen in back gardens in Margate and Ramsgate and on one occasion stole a victim's car keys.

The 34-year-old admitted a series of offences and has now been handed a 12-month sentence at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court.

Holden was seen by shocked residents with a large knife in the garden of a woman's home in Ramsgate Road, Margate, on August 31.

But he fled the scene after being spotted and the resident discovered the lock on her shed had been broken off.

He was later seen in the garden of a neighbour and again left the scene.

Holden was then spotted in the garden of another homeowner nearby. He swiped a set of car keys from the home and fled, but did not steal the vehicle.

Holden was finally arrested on October 12 after he was seen in gardens and looking into cars in Clements Road, Ramsgate.

He was stopped by police and found to be in possession of a torch, a multi-tool and an extendible magnet.

Officers bailed him while his activities were investigated, but he was arrested three days later after yet again breaking into a car, also in Clements Road, Ramsgate.

Police arrested him, and found he was carrying class A drugs.

Holden, of Clements Road, was charged with vehicle interference, possession of amphetamine, theft of the car keys, going equipped to steal and attempted burglary - charges he later admitted. He was jailed on October 22.

Investigating officer PC David Appleford said: "Holden is a persistent thief whose offending would have caused great distress to Thanet residents who saw him in their gardens.

"I am pleased that the evidence gathered in this quick investigation left him with no choice but to plead guilty and that he is now in prison and will be unable to trouble local residents for some months."

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