A 66-year-old man who believed he was in a relationship with a younger woman was shocked to see her among a gang of burglars storming his home.

The victim’s flat in Invicta House, Margate, was raided by Jaydee Ashton, 35, who lived upstairs in the tower block, and two men.

CCTV recorded Ashton, alongside Ricky Norman, 38, and Terry Norman, 37, leaving her flat while wearing face masks during the early hours of Thursday, February 9.

She then knocked on their target’s door and was invited in after she said she wished to pay back a small loan.

Canterbury Crown Court heard the victim - a painter and decorator - had believed for the past six weeks that he and Ashton were in a relationship.

But once inside, she unlocked the door and was swiftly joined by Ricky Norman, who also lives in the Millmead Road block, and Terry Norman, of South Court in Ramsgate.

The man was “completely petrified” and immediately sought refuge inside the kitchen and blocked the door, the court heard.

“He saw something shiny and metallic in the hands of one of the men, which he feared was a weapon,” said prosecutor Ali Dewji.

As he took cover for 13 minutes, one burglar meted out derogatory and unfounded allegations, Mr Dewji continued.

Although the victim – who KentOnline has decided not to name – did not wish to submit an impact statement, “he was completely petrified”, the prosecutor added.

The court heard the thieves made off with £80 cash, a debit card, driving licence, prescription medication and a mobile phone. A CSCS card, providing proof of training to work on a construction site, was also taken.

CCTV positioned in the tower block’s corridor recorded the moment the trio fled the home shortly after midnight.

Ashton rushed to her own flat while her co-defendants used Terry Norman’s convertible VW Golf to make a getaway.

But a police probe would later reveal the car was registered to his home address, where the police discovered some of the stolen items.

All three defendants pleaded guilty to burglary at an early opportunity.

The court heard they suffered drug addiction and trauma from an early age, which was the driving force behind their actions.

Ashton’s barrister told the Judge, Recorder Stuart Trimmer KC: “She is very sorry to [him] for the obvious harm she caused him on that day.”

Judge Trimmer handed down three years’ custody to each defendant, while activating a seven-month suspended sentence for Ashton and 18-week suspended sentence for Ricky Norman.

Their lawyers argued the burglary was unplanned, with the trio initially going to the address to retrieve some of Ashton’s belongings.

They claimed the defendants decided to burgle spontaneously while inside the address.

But the judge threw out their claims and labelled their actions “significant planning” involving “the female being the reason why the victim opened the door”.

He told Ashton: “You are primarily involved in the way in which this comes about”.