A burglar who stole a disabled woman's handbag weeks after being released from prison has been handed a further three-and-a-half years in jail.

The 63-year-old victim had just made lunch when she noticed Amos Smith, 36, stood in the hallway of her home in the Old Kent Road area of Paddock Wood, at about 3pm on Tuesday January 27 2015.

Smith fled when confronted but the woman later discovered that her purse which contained a disability rail card, £12 cash and various bank and store cards had been stolen from her handbag.

Kent Police suspected Smith was responsible from the description provided and obtained CCTV footage that showed him in the Paddock Wood area around the time of the crime.

Smith, formerly of Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, was on parole for a previous conviction at the time and was immediately returned to prison following his arrest two days later.

He was charged with burglary in March but pleaded not guilty and was convicted following a trial at Maidstone Crown Court. He was sentenced on Friday October 9.

Investigating officer detective constable Neil Buckle said: "Amos Smith targeted a vulnerable woman for his own financial benefit and is now back behind bars as a result.

"The fact he had only just been released from prison suggests he is incapable of learning from his mistakes. He now faces a lengthy custodial sentence that will prevent him from causing any further harm to the most vulnerable members of society."