A heroin addict burglar has been sent to prison – with the eloquent words of one of his victims still ringing in his ears.

Teenage raider Patrick Dandas broke into the Margate home of Hannah Yeoman – the mother of a four month old child – and trashed it looking for things to steal.

But the courageous victim sat down and penned the thief a personal letter, which was read to him as he sat impassively in the dock at Canterbury Crown Court.

It read: “I am sitting at home writing this feeling frightened to be in my own home, ever since you thought it was OK to break in and steal my personal belongings.

“I used to feel safe to be in my home but you have changed that. I feel scared for myself, for my partner and my four-month-old baby.

“People like you do not understand the damage that you caused to our lives when you entered my home without permission.

“It is something I will never forget. I feel angry, upset, frightened and scared. You have changed the way I feel about my family home and for that I will never forgive you.

“Life is what you make it. You have chosen a life of crime. So why don’t you get yourself a job and stop taking things from people that work hard?

“I hope you get the punishment you deserve...because once your punishment is over...it is over. But this will stay with me forever.”

Dandas, 18, of Norfolk Road, was jailed for 27 months after he admitted two break-ins and asking for three others to be considered.

He had also confessed to raiding the home of an ex-lover Sarah Scukova in Dane Road, Margate in September.

Prosecutor Jim Harvey said the thief had secretly kept a key to the home she shared with her four children aged 13, 12 and eight.

She woke up to find Dandas leaning over her trying to steal her mobile phone – but then pretended he had come to the house for help..

“He told her that he was running away from the police and asked for assistance.

Instead Ms Scukova went to wake up her uncle who was staying there and contacted police.

Days later Dandas saw her in the street near Northdown Road and shouted: “Snitch, I got nicked because of you”. She retorted: “Well what did you think I was going to do?”

After changing all her locks, she later told police: “He really scared me. To think of how he came in without my permission and woke me, worries me.

“We now have to hide items when we go out.”

“I am sitting at home writing this feeling frightened to be in my own home, ever since you thought it was OK to break in and steal my personal belongings. I used to feel safe to be in my home, but you have changed that" - Dandas's burglary victim

Dandas was arrested and given police bail but on October 10 went to Ms Yeoman’s house in Wharfedale Road, Margate where he was spotted by police carrying away electrical items.

Mr Harvey said he had ransacked the home, with covers thrown about and books, papers and tables thrown over the floor.

Ms Yeoman said that when she went into her bedroom she felt “sickened and scared” and began shaking and crying.

After his second arrest he confessed to police that he had carried out three other raids on homes including Stanley Road, Cliftonville, St Dunstans Road and Percy Road, both Margate.

Kerry Waite, defending said: “He now realises just the devastating impact burglaries have on people and because of his heroin addiction just how low he has sunk. But he wants to make something of his life.”