Burglar Charlie Morgan thought he had got away with the perfect break-in when he and a gang raided a home in Dover.

But the 18-year-old was foiled after using a stolen bank card at his favourite Chinese takeaway.

The £24.90 fraud was spotted by the victim. He alerted police who checked with the restaurant and Morgan found himself being taken away by police.

Now Morgan, of Chaucer Road, Elvington, has been given a suspended sentence after he admitted his part in the £1000 raid, which he committed in breach of an earlier suspended jail term.

Prosecutor Donna East had told how the break-in took place on May 9 at the home of Caroline Baker in Church Farm, Dover.

She had left in the morning and a neighbour had come to the property later to let her dog out, possibly disturbing the burglars.

The raiders took a wallet, a mobile phone and items of jewellery and Ms Baker later was told an attempt had been made to use one of her stolen bank cards.

Ms East said: “It had been used in an attempt to buy a Chinese meal. Police spoke with the restaurant staff and discovered that it was used by Morgan who was known to them.

“He later told officers that he had been with other people walking around looking for a place to burgle and had then used one of the stolen cards at the restaurant in Elvington.”
The court heard that just days before his court appearance, he became a father for the first time.

The judge, Recorder Philip Engleman told him his behaviour had been “stupid” because he had used the stolen card at a takeaway where he was well known.
“It was very stupid because you were a regular customer. You have just become a father and it would be a tragedy if you were now in prison as you have your whole life ahead of you.”

He was given a 12 month jail sentence suspended for two years