A fraudster who tried to steal personal documents by taping over a mailbox will spend more than two years behind bars.

David Donkor sealed the letterbox of a Tunbridge Wells couple's home in Albion Road to divert banking information into a temporary container, which he then removed.

The 40-year-old appeared at Maidstone Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to going equipped for theft, possessing a false identity document with intent and possessing an article for use in fraud.

He was jailed for two years and three months.

Donkor was stopped by police officers in March after they spotted his car in the same area on several occasions in a short space of time.

This led them to become suspicious and they circled him.

When pulled over, Donkor was caught with the mailbox in his possession - as well as a crowbar, a large quantity of double-sided tape, a postal uniform and a mail bag.

"He was outwitted by Kent Police officers who sensed something was suspicious about him and were proved correct after pulling him over to investigate..." - DC Hayley Campbell

Donkor gave a false name and date of birth when questioned and produced a driving licence with the same details.

A bank card ordered by Donkor, of Edmonton in North London, arrived at the property in Albion Road after he had been arrested.

Officers later found two mobile phones belonging to the offender, containing calls to a banking number and lost or stolen line, as well as text messages detailing names, addresses, account numbers and sort codes.

DC Hayley Campbell said: "David Donkor probably thought he had an clever idea when he taped a temporary mailbox to the front of somebody else's house in an attempt to steal their mail.

"However, he was outwitted by Kent Police officers who sensed something was suspicious about him and were proved correct after pulling him over to investigate.

"I'm very pleased with the judge's sentence and hope this sends a clear message to anyone considering carrying out similar unlawful actions."