Prowling burglar who assaulted police officer is jailed

Police said Joshua Plant tried to break into multiple addresses in the Cliffsend area of Ramsgate

A "prowling" burglar who broke into a house in Kent after stealing his friend’s car has been jailed.

Joshua Plant, 22, from Margate, took the vehicle without permission at about 23:00 BST on 13 October last year.

Plant stole a handbag and a watch from a property in Beech Grove, Ramsgate, and assaulted a police officer when he was arrested shortly after.

At Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday he was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison.

Kent Police said Plant was caught on CCTV breaking into the property in Beech Road

Police said he had been caught on camera "prowling" around houses, acting suspiciously and trying door handles.

Residents reported him attempting to enter a number of properties before police arrived.

The stolen watch was found near him by police and the vehicle he had taken was located crashed in a field near Nash Road.

Plant, of Westbrook Road, admitted aggravated vehicle taking, burglary, assaulting an emergency worker and eight counts of attempted burglary.

He has been disqualified from driving for 683 days.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Georgie Taker said: “Plant committed a series of offences in a short space of time, upsetting a lot of residents.”