A "cowardly" burglar who came face-to-face with his elderly victim as he stole from her home has been sentenced to almost four years in prison.

The woman, aged in her 80s, caught Peter Line inside her Ramsgate property on the afternoon of May 6, when the coronavirus lockdown was in effect.

Line had managed to sneak into the Pysons Road home after the victim had left her back door open so her dogs could go to the garden.

After she found Line and sent him away, she discovered every drawer and cupboard door in the bedrooms had been opened and that jewellery was missing.

Police were called and officers found CCTV footage which placed Line, 44, at the scene of the burglary.

He was arrested later that same day and when officers searched his property in Argyll Drive, Ramsgate, they found a brooch and a bracelet which were among the stolen items.

Line was charged with one count of burglary, which he admitted at Canterbury Crown Court, and on Monday he was sentenced to three years, 11 months and eight days in prison.

His sentence included additional days, after he breached a conditional discharge relating to an offence from 2019.

Senior investigating officer, Det Sgt Jay Robinson from the Chief Constable’s Crime Squad, said: "Peter Line already has several convictions for burglary and was under a conditional discharge when he decided to steal again, so his sentence reflects the severity of his behaviour.

"It was a cowardly targeting of an elderly lady who must have been terrified to find a strange man in her home, stealing items which were at the very least of sentimental value to her.

"It was also carried out during a pandemic when it was crucially important to listen to government advice and Line’s offending could have put someone at extreme risk.

"As the weather warms up, while Line won’t be out to enjoy it, we would still like to remind people to keep doors and windows secured if you are leaving them unattended. Don’t give burglars any opportunity to steal."

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