A burglar who stole tools left by workmen at an empty property has been jailed for more than three years.

Darryl Everett entered a house undergoing renovation in Chestnut Avenue, Tunbridge Wells, and swiped items including a power drill and electric fan on April 8.

Unbeknown to Everett, during the break-in police had been alerted to reports of loud noises from within the unoccupied building.

He was also seen by a witness to leave the house with a number of items and put them into the boot of a Vauxhall Vectra parked outside before driving away.

Officers located and stopped the car just hours later and Everett was arrested.

All the stolen items were recovered; however the 37-year-old initially denied any wrong doing and even claimed he had found the fan in a skip.

Everett, of Manor Road, Southborough, later pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court to charges of burglary, theft and driving a motor vehicle without insurance.

He had also breached a suspended sentence imposed for a previous offence.

He was sentenced to three years and five months in prison.

Detective Constable Robert Fursey said: “Criminals like Everett who target construction sites and buildings undergoing renovation can cause huge inconvenience to contractors, not just in the loss of the tools of their trade, but the loss of work and opportunity to make money, and the time and inconvenience of replacing what has been stolen.

“Thankfully on this occasion we have been able to track Everett down and return the stolen items to their rightful owner.

“Justice has now also been served in the courts and he is facing the consequences of his actions with a significant prison sentence.”