A bungling Dartford burglar who stole £5,000 of cigarettes from a newsagents has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Ian David Thomas, of Wordsworth Way, raided Martins newsagents in West Malling High Street in the early hours of January 14.

The 35-year-old and accomplice Stan Charlie Abbey, 29, were caught after they left fingerprints all over their Saab getaway car and almost got stuck trying to squeeze their haul through the shattered window of the shop.

The stolen car was even found to have racked up a number of parking tickets in Priestfield Road, Gillingham – the same road Abbey lived in before he was sentenced to two years and two weeks in prison after pleading guilty to the burglary.

He also admitted two previous burglaries at the same Co-Op in Gillingham which took place in January.

As well as filling a large builder’s-style bag with cigarettes and tobacco worth more than £5,000, Thomas and Abbey helped themselves to £91.11 worth of sweets and confectionery from Martins.

Detective Sergeant Jon Faulkner of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "Far from being cunning, they were brought down by their own stupidity and by the hard work of my investigation team."

Thomas admitted burglary and at Maidstone Crown Court on Thursday he was sentenced to 18 months in prison suspended for two years.