Bitter Ben Caplin didn't want his ex-partner to have sex with another man after he was dumped... so he broke into her home and swiped her condoms.

But the judge who jailed the 24-year-old jilted lover for 16 months told him: "This was a very mean and nasty offence and it's quite plain it was carried out for revenge."

Alastair Walker, prosecuting, told Canterbury Crown Court that in August this year there had been a break-in at Fulbert Road, Dover – the home of his ex-lover, Katie South.

Learner driver Caplin – who had taken his father's car without permission – then drove to the house and took items of "sentimental" value, including jewellery and a bottle of champagne... before also pocketing a packet of condoms.

But after fleeing the scene he was involved in a crash in Melbourne Avenue and damaged his father's Vauxhall car.

Caplin was later breathalised and was one-and-a-half times the legal limit at the time of the accident.

Mr Walker said Ms South had been tipped off that Caplin was planning to visit her – and decided to stay at her mother's home.

Caplin, of Coombe Valley Road, Dover, admitted burglary, aggravated vehicle taking, drink-driving and driving without a full licence and insurance.

Kerry Waitt, defending, said Caplin and Ms South had been in a relationship for three years and he struggled to come to terms with the break down in the relationship.

He said: "He had gone there in the hope of talking to her but discovered she wasn't there.

"He then broke in and took items, not for profit or gain, but for revenge. It was also done as a means of inducing a channel of communication..."

But Judge Adele Williams retorted: "Inducing a channel of communication?

"He steals items of jewellery and a bottle of champagne and a packet of condoms, which he said he took in order to prevent her having sex with anyone else... and this is done in an attempt to induce a channel of communication?

"That's hardly likely to endear himself to her is it?"

Mr Waitt said Caplin was drunk at the time and now accepts the relationship is over.

Judge Williams told the burglar he had stolen jewellery because he knew they were items that had sentimental value to Ms South.

She added: "You just wanted to get back at her. It was despicable."

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