A Cliftonville teenager has amassed 46 convictions for burglaries at people’s homes....in just six years!

Prolific thief Samuel Hodges - who is just 19 years old - has his criminal history read to a judge , who retorted: “This is the worst record for burglary I have ever seen for someone so young. How depressing is that?”

But the jobless tyre fitter’s chances of adding to his total immediately has now been punctured... after he was sent into a Young Offender’s Institution for four years.

Hodges, of Norfolk Road had admitted two break-ins in Thanet after he targeted houses shortly after the occupants had left.

Canterbury Crown Court heard in September victim Robin Lofts – who had been raided by thieves only six months earlier – left two bikes chained to a chair to deter thieves.

Hodges and a 16-year-old pal then broke into the home in High Street, St Peters...and even had the nerve to borrow his hacksaw to saw through the chain!

Jim Harvey, prosecuting said the bikes – worth £1,500 and £350 – the pair had stolen had been replacements for bikes stolen in the earlier burglary. Hodges and his thieving pal also took a Kindle and a £200 watch.

Police checked CCTV cameras in a nearby complex and spotted Hodges and the teenager going to the house.

The next day Hodges and another man, who hasn't been caught, broke into the home of the second victim, Nicola McKay in Cuban Avenue, Broadstairs within 10 minutes of her leaving home.

Mr Harvey said the two raiders searched every room in the house before fleeing with a laptop, electrical goods and jewellery worth “thousands of pounds”.

He said Hodges was caught again on CCTV cameras – this time belonging to a neighbour living opposite Ms McKay’s home.

The footage was shown to police officers who recognised Hodges as one of the culprits.

The prosecutor said a friend of the victim later heard Hodges was suspected and managed to recover the laptop from him.

“This is the worst record for burglary I have ever seen for someone so young. How depressing is that?” - Judge James O'Mahony

Hodges has admitted 16 break-ins since 2007 and asked for another 30 to be taken into consideration.

Judge James O’Mahony told the two: “This is an extraordinary case because you have committed burglary after burglary.

“You both have had miserable starts to your lives but there comes a time when you have got to stop making other people’s lives miserable.”

The judge gave the 16-year-old, who had admitted one burglary, an 18 month detention and training order.