A heartless thief who stole Christmas presents from homes in east Kent has been jailed for more than seven years.

Ashley Lee, 24, of Chapel Road in Tilmanstone, Deal, appeared at Canterbury Crown Court on Wednesday, May 6.

He was sentenced to seven and a half years for a total of five burglaries, handling stolen goods and a theft, along with two charges of common assault.

He was charged with criminal damage and another charge of possession of a firearm.

At an earlier hearing, Lee pleaded guilty to the offences.

A police investigation found that Lee was responsible for breaking into a house in Marshborough Road, Sandwich, on Monday, December 8.

He damaged a door while gaining entry and stole a 47-inch TV and approximately £700 in Christmas gifts.

Two days later on Wednesday, December 10, he targeted a house in Frogham, Dover, where he took a guitar and another television.

Hours after the burglary in Frogham, he was arrested at his home.

A search of his car found a number of stolen items including a guitar which matched the description of the one reported missing earlier that day.

Further inquiries soon identified Lee as the offender for several other burglaries.

On Thursday, November 27, he broke into an address in Chillenden, Canterbury, and made off with tablet computers, a games console, a TV and a mobile phone.

A few days later on 1 December, a property in Barfreston, Dover, was burgled.

Again Lee stole a TV, games console, a tablet computer and jewellery.

Det Con Roz Friend said: "Lee has shown repeated criminal behaviour – breaking into people’s homes on a regular basis and stealing their property, which has a big impact on victims, particularly so close to what should be an exciting and fun time of year such as Christmas.

"Lee is now where he belongs – in prison where he can contemplate his actions and enjoy some Christmases of his own, behind bars."