A masked burglar broke into a supermarket, damaged a Covid-19 protective screen and then threatened to spit at officers who arrived to arrest him.

Karl Fathers, 37, had used a brick and a hammer to gain entry to the Co-op in Hamilton Road, Deal, at 4am on Friday, April 24.

Wearing a balaclava, he then broke into a cabinet behind the counter in an attempt to steal cigarettes.

During the break-in, he smashed part of the supermarket's automatic door, as well as damaging its Covid-19 screen and cigarette cabinet, causing an estimated £3,000 worth of damage.

And when the store's alarm was activated and police arrived and arrested Fathers, he threatened to spit at them.

Fathers, of no fixed abode, also caused damage to a cell he was kept in at Canterbury Police Station.

He admitted criminal damage and burglary at Medway Magistrates' Court the following day.

On Tuesday, June 2, he was jailed for two-years-and-five-months at Canterbury Crown Court.

Acting DI Daniel Aylett said: "Fathers caused significant damage to this business in his bid to steal cigarettes.

"Kent Police takes burglaries of local businesses extremely seriously and will seek the prosecution of anyone involved in such crimes."

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