A burglar who stole "irreplaceable" Beatles memorabilia and designer handbags from homes in east Kent has been locked up.

Keiran Wade burgled three homes in Thanet and Canterbury, stealing items ranging from a collectable set of original Beatles programmes to jewellery, sunglasses, and a Prada handbag.

Between September 13 and November 20 last year, the "career criminal" broke into homes in Waverley Road, Margate; Charollais Close in Canterbury; and Broadstairs Road in Broadstairs.

During the burglary in Canterbury, he was disturbed by the victim returning home and so left empty-handed before he could be seen.

Wade was arrested after staff at a jewellery store became suspicious when he tried to sell on one of his ill-gotten gains - a Rolex watch.

When police searched his car, they also found the stolen designer bags and Beatles merchandise.

Officers recovered a pair of trainers, which matched footprints found at the scene of the burglary in Waverley Road.

"He steals things which are greatly loved by the owners and are irreplaceable if lost..."

Wade was also found in possession of a black bag with a rubber trim that had caused unusual black markings on the walls of two of the homes he'd broken into.

Following an investigation by the Chief Constable’s Crime Squad, 40-year-old Wade was charged with the three burglaries which he admitted in court.

Wade, of Alma Road in Ramsgate, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years when he appeared at Canterbury Crown Court.

Investigating officer DC Sarah Copeland said: "Keiran Wade was on licence at the time of these burglaries and is, as the judge said, a career criminal who makes his living by breaking into other people’s homes.

"What Wade doesn’t seem to realise is that he steals things which are greatly loved by the owners and are irreplaceable if lost, such as the Beatles programmes.

"I hope the public can feel reassured that he is now off the streets and won’t be able to offend further."

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