A prolific thief who scammed £50,000 from one victim and burgled 13 homes in just two months has been jailed.

Steven Snell stole from cars and houses, taking personal items, cash and bank cards in a prolific crime spree across Gravesend, Snodland, Aylesford and West Malling.

The 35-year-old, of no address, was described by police as a "career criminal" who thought he could get away with making other people's lives a misery.

Snell has now been sentenced to more than six years in prison after pleading guilty to 32 different charges.

Between July 25 and September 24, 2019, Snell targeted 13 homes, thieving all manner of items and using bankcards stolen from his victims to make purchases and withdraw money.

He has also been prosecuted in connection with a separate investigation into rogue trading offences after scamming a man for tens of thousands of pounds.

Between April 9 and June 14, 2018, Snell repeatedly targeted his victim in Ramsgate under the pretence of carrying out building work, demanding payments totalling more than £50,000 for work which was never completed.

He also stole his debit card, spending another £5,000.

Snell was caught on September 24 as he stole a Ford Kuga from outside a property in Old Road East, Gravesend.

An officer spotted him walking away from the stolen vehicle, chased him, and caught him as he tried to scale a fence.

On Monday 3 February 2020 Snell was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court to six years' imprisonment, as well as additional 114 days for breaching a suspended sentence and conditional discharge.

He had pleaded guilty to 13 counts of burglary, ten counts of theft of a motor vehicle and a further nine counts of fraud.

Detective Constable Rachel Laidlaw said: ‘Steven Snell is a career criminal and prolific thief and burglar, the likes of whom think they can get away with making other people’s lives a misery. His actions have had a profound impact on his victims and we know all too well just how devastating burglaries can be, for anyone whose home is broken into.

‘Combatting offenders such as Snell remains a high priority for Kent Police and I’d like to reassure residents we have teams of detectives dedicated to fighting, preventing and solving burglary throughout the county. We will do all in our power to bring criminals to justice.'