A “Good Samaritan” turned callous thief after going to the aid of a man who had fallen down stairs in Margate.

As Ian Birch, in his 50s, lay dying from a serious head injury, heartless John Yarwood swiped his wallet.

And as police and hospital staff tried to discover the name of the injured man, the 31-year-old thief used stolen bank cards to buy scratch cards and booze.

Today, Yarwood, who was sofa surfing in Sweyn Road, Margate, was jailed after a judge branded him as “despicable and contemptible”.

Police had initially launched a murder enquiry after Mr Birch’s body was discovered at the bottom of stairs to flats in Sweyn Road.

As a friend of Yarwood went to find a nurse to help the dying man, Yarwood rifled through his pockets, prosecutor Ian Foinette told Canterbury Crown Court.

And then he went to three nearby shops and spent more than £260 worth of goods while doctors fought to keep the then unknown patient alive.

Mr Birch died in hospital two days later after failing to recover from his head injury, the court heard.

Mr Foinette said that police officers, hospital staff and the Coroner’s staff didn’t know who the man was because of Yarwood’s cruel thieving.

He pleaded guilty to charges of theft and fraud at an earlier hearing before magistrates and was sent to the crown court for sentence.

The judge, Recorder Anthony Clover jailed him for two years telling him: “Stealing from a dying man is a despicable thing to do.

“This was a severely injured man who was shortly to die from his injuries. It was a contemptible offence.”

Yarwood lied when he was eventually arrested but then told detectives he and a friend had found the man lying injured at the bottom of the stairs.

As his pal went to find a nurse, the thief claimed the dying man began saying: “Darren...Darren” and he had looked for his wallet to find his name so he could talk to him.

His lawyer, Guy Wyatt said Yarwood then gave into temptation and took the wallet with cards, £33 in cash and a mobile phone but it had not been a “carefully planned or sophisticated” theft.

Yardwood had then used Mr Birch’s card to make 12 purchases at three nearby stores, including scratchcards, alcohol and food.

The frauds only stopped when the bank prevented it being used again, the court heard.

Speaking after the case, a spokesman for his family said: "He is greatly missed by his family and friends".