A thief who threatened a man in his 70s with a knife and stole from two houses in one day has been jailed.

Brendan Kent was caught red-handed with transaction receipts for a bank card he stole.

He has been jailed for more than three years.

A court heard that on the morning of Monday, June 5, Kent forced his way into the home of people he knew in Mayfield Avenue, Dover, and demanded money from them.

He then asked to use their toilet and took a victim’s handbag into the bathroom with him.

When he emerged later, cash was found to be missing from the victim’s purse and her phone was also stolen.

Later that day Kent visited a second address in the town’s Shooters Hill, and demanded money from a man in his 70s.

Kent picked up a knife from the victim’s kitchen and threatened to stab him.

But the elderly man refused to be intimidated and Kent ran from the property.

"He thought he could target vulnerable individuals who knew him, and would get away with it" - Det Sgt Matthew Smith

The man realised Kent had stolen a wallet containing cash, and bank card.

The card was used in three locations in Dover, and when Kent was arrested he still had the receipts for the transactions.

Kent, 35, of Fulbert Road, Dover, admitted two counts of theft, and three counts of fraud at Canterbury Crown Court.

He was sentenced to a total of 38 months in prison on Monday, July 24.

Senior investigating officer Det Sgt Matthew Smith said: "Although the items stolen may not seem very valuable, Kent’s offending is serious because his behaviour was aggressive and volatile.

“He thought he could target vulnerable individuals who knew him, and would get away with it.

“Unfortunately for him, he was wrong and also by keeping the receipts, it meant he was caught red-handed and had to face up to his deeds."