A burglar who stole a family’s belongings while they were asleep upstairs has been jailed.

Peter Nicholls, from south-east London, climbed through the window of the property on The Ridgeway, Tonbridge, in July.

Once inside the 21-year-old stole a laptop, video games and cash, as well as a contactless bank card that led to his arrest the following day when he used it to pass a barrier at Charing Cross railway station.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how staff there spotted Nicholls acting suspiciously and asked to see his ticket, at which point he presented the bank card.

As a worker went to check the card’s details, Nicholls walked away before being detained by two PCSOs.

He was arrested on suspicion of fraud and a search of his bag revealed a number of other items stolen in the burglary

While on bail for the offence, officers investigating a separate burglary on Birling Road, Snodland gained forensic evidence linking Nicholls to the scene.

On that occasion he gained access to the property through a window that had been smashed by a stone, and stole cash and various other personal items while the occupants were out.

A satnav was also taken from a vehicle parked outside.

When Nicholls was re-arrested for the Snodland offence on 20 July 2015 he was wearing a pair of trainers stolen from the property.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary, one count of fraud and one count of theft from a motor vehicle, and was sentenced on Friday.

He was jailed for two years and four months.

Investigating officer, detective constable Neil Buckle, said: "Burglary is a terrible crime that has a lasting impact on victims, and is something Kent Police takes very seriously.

"It must be truly terrifying for a family to wake up and discover an intruder has been in their home, but this was clearly of no concern to Peter Nicholls when he climbed through a window and helped himself to other people’s belongings while they were asleep upstairs.

"This sentence should act as a warning to other would-be burglars that your crimes will catch up with you and you will serve time behind bars as a result."