Burglars broke into a boating and social club in Medway and left a £30,000 trail of destruction, a court heard.

Mark Hutton and his accomplice only took a fire extinguisher from Rochester Cruising Club on the Esplanade in the early hours of November 24.

When arrested shortly afterwards, the 27-year-old had a crowbar in his hand. A search of his bag revealed two more crowbars, a screwdriver and gloves.

Security-concious Hutton — who ironically lives in a trailer in Lincoln Close, Strood, because it helps to prevent burglaries — was jailed for 15 months after admitting burglary and criminal damage.

A judge told him: “These are serious matters. You decided to break into that cruising club and caused all that damage, clearly intending to obtain money. There were very serious consequences for the property and the owners.”

Maidstone Crown Court was told the key holder was notified in the early hours of November 24 that the security alarm had been activated. She could see on her mobile phone that the door was open.

She contacted the police and went with her husband to investigate. When they arrived they could hear a noise inside and then saw men wearing dark clothing.

They waited for the police. Hutton and his accomplice ran off when confronted. Hutton was arrested but the other man escaped.

Prosecutor Eleanor Scott-Davies said there was “considerable damage” to the building. Locks were broken, doors were smashed open and the fire extinguisher was ripped off the wall.

A crowbar was used to try to get into a safe. Alarm boxes had been ripped off the roof.

“The damage was estimated at £20-30,000,” said Miss Scott-Davies. “It will have a significant impact on them. They no longer have any security systems in place. They will have to replace all the doors.

“It will take a long time for the club to get back up and running.”

Hutton also admitted harassment of his ex-girlfriend and driving while disqualified, increasing his total sentence to 22 months. A restraining order was made, banning him from going to his ex’s home for four years.