A heartless raider broke into a house in Dover - and stole a pendant with a picture of a dead child from on top a box containing the ashes.

Selfish Sam Dunka crept into the home of the family where three other children - aged 11, three and one - were sleeping with their parents.

But the mean thief didn't escape justice... because he left his fingerprint on the box containing the ashes.

Jim Harvey, prosecuting, told Canterbury Crown Court how the 21-year-old petty thief pocketed £20 along with a purse, store cards and a watch.

"What was most upsetting for the family was when they discovered that a pendant and chain were missing from the front room.

"The pendant contained a picture of the couple's deceased child and had been placed on a box containing the ashes of the child in the front room," he said.

The prosecutor added: "The householder stated to police that it would have been evident to anyone that took it that it was linked to the ashes."

Dunka, of Marine Terrace, Folkestone, was caught because he left his fingerprints on the ashes box during the nighttime raid last September.

He had also been found later the same month twice in private areas of the Grand Hotel, in Folkestone.

"He was caught on CCTV cameras and it was quite clear what he was doing... seeking to find items to steal," Mr Harvey added.

"the householder stated to police that it would have been evident to anyone that took it that it was linked to the ashes...” – jim harvey, prosecuting

Dunka was discovered in a kitchen corridor by a chef – and tried to talk his way out of it by claiming he was looking for work.

Later he was seen in the living quarters by the owner – but fled before he could be stopped, the court heard.

Mr Harvey said Dunka used the same scam when he went into a shop in Folkestone claiming he was looking for work, but then stole a mobile phone of a member of staff.

Dunka, who admitted two burglaries and a theft, asked for the theft from a charity box to be taken into consideration. He claimed he carried out the raids to get money to feed his drugs habit.

Judge Adele Williams, in jailing him for a total of 20 months, told him: "What is particularly aggravating about the burglary in Dover was not only were three young children present, but one of the items you stole was of considerable sentimental and emotional value because it contained a picture of the couple's deceased child."