A thief stole an expensive car belonging to multi-millionaire Theo Paphitis after burgling his chauffeur’s home, a court heard.

David Cook broke into driver Michael Brown’s £360,000 house in Station Road, Edenbridge, on August 5 last year in a “creeper” burglary, stole the keys to the Dragons’ Den star’s £45,000 Land Rover Defender and drove it away.

The car bearing the personal number plate TW11TER was not recovered and Mr Paphitis, whose wealth is estimated at £280 million, was forced to make an insurance claim for the amount.

Cook, of Petersham Gardens, St Paul’s Cray, admitted burglary and theft when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court.

The 31-year-old was jailed for two years and eight months - nine months for the burglary, 20 months concurrent for theft and 12 months consecutive for breach of a suspended sentence.

Cypriot-born Mr Paphitis, 57, who bought the car in Staverton, Gloucestershire, in July 2013, lives in Weybridge, Surrey, where he is a keen collector of cars.

He owns stationery chain Ryman, homewares specialist Robert Dyas and lingerie retailer Boux Avenue. He is a former chairman of Millwall FC.

His cars include a chrome Maybach 62, Mercedes SL63 AMG and a Toyota Land Cruiser. He has a number of other personalised number plates, including RYM4N on the Maybach.