A couple returned home from a close relative’s funeral to find their Gravesend home had been ransacked by burglars, a court heard.

Tony Myatt and his wife, who are in their 60s, had £3,000 cash stolen as well as a large quantity of gold jewellery, bank cards and personal documents.

Maidstone Crown Court heard they had been at the funeral of Mrs Myatt’s mother when the break-in occurred on November 26 last year.

Up to six young men were said to have smashed their way into the property in Lyndhurst Way, Istead Rise, through a rear patio door.

They also ripped a hole in net curtains in the living room to provide a look-out, before pulling over furniture, rummaging through cupboards, and throwing the couple’s belongings across rooms.

Mr Myatt later told police of their “complete devastation”.

This week, Gavin Prentice, 20, from Enfield in Middlesex, admitted burglary. He had originally denied the charge and was due to stand trial when he changed his plea.

"The sense of intrusion and upset which your victims felt, was made all the worse by the fact they were elderly and the offence occurred at a particularly difficult time for them" - Judge David Griffith-Jones QC

His barrister told the court he had played a “subordinate” role and felt “slightly aggrieved” that he had been the only one charged.

However, sentencing him to 28 months in a young offenders’ institution, Judge David Griffith-Jones QC said he had “no reason” to feel any resentment.

“The seriousness of such an offence lies not so much in the mere financial worth of the items taken, but in both the sentimental value of the jewellery taken and the violation of your victims’ home,” he said.

“That violation, and the sense of intrusion and upset which your victims felt, was made all the worse by the fact they were elderly and the offence occurred at a particularly difficult time for them.”

Prentice was believed to be on licence at the time for a 22-month sentence imposed in August 2013 for three offences of burglary, aggravated vehicle taking and failing to surrender.

The court heard he also has another previous conviction for attempted burglary.

Prosecutor John Traversi said the cash stolen had been saved by the Myatts to pay for a holiday abroad, and the jewellery was of “considerable” personal and financial value.

The burglars were seen by a dog walker as they left the property in an Audi, with one of the gang bizarrely getting into the boot.

Prentice was arrested in Enfield.

Susan Rodham, defending, said Dublin-born Prentice acted as the look-out in the “spontaneous” break-in and did not take part in any ransacking.

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