A burglar who stole from someone just hours after they gave him food has been jailed for over two years.

On Saturday February 16 Simon Elliott visited the victim, who was known to him, in Cliftonville Avenue, Ramsgate.

They shared some food and drink and Elliott left, however the woman was woken up later that night by his voice calling out at her front door.

A few moments later the victim heard more noises, this time coming from inside her home.

When she got up to investigate, she found the front door open and her purse containing cash and cards missing.

She realised that someone had crept into the house through a window, moving a pot plant in the process, and then stolen from within.

Outside she found Elliott’s bags which she had seen him carrying earlier, and after a police invstigation found his fingerprints on the pot plant, he was arrested.

Elliot, 41, of Clements Road in Ramsgate pleaded guilty to the burglary and he was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday August 1 to a total of around two years and four months (876 days) in prison.

Investigating officer DC Richard Cordery said: "Elliot’s offending is aggravated by the fact he chose to repay the kindness the victim showed to him by stealing her money and bank cards.

"His offending was mean-spirited and I hope he uses his time in prison to consider his actions."

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