A burglar from Dover will serve a longer prison sentence after officers involved in the case requested an appeal.
Kyle Thatcher broke into three homes in Staple and River between 7 and 20 April 2022 and, during the third burglary, knocked a woman in her 80s to the ground while stealing her jewellery.
Thatcher, 30, formerly of Folkestone Road, Dover, was originally given a two-year, eight-month sentence at Canterbury Crown Court in May this year.
But officers from Kent Police’s Chief Constable’s Crime Squad asked for the Attorney General to have the sentence reviewed at the Court of Appeal in London.
Three senior judges
The original sentenced was ruled to be ‘unduly lenient’ by three senior judges on Tuesday 6 September and was increased to four years and six months.
Thatcher’s first offence took place on Thursday 7 April, when a window was smashed and jewellery stolen from a property in Staple.
On Friday 15 April, a resident in River returned home to find doors forced open and rooms left in a mess. Jewellery, designer clothing and cash had been taken.
The final offence was on Wednesday 20 April, when the victim found him in her room. He pushed her out of the way, causing injuries, and left with her belongings.
Keeping the county safe
Thatcher was arrested after detectives found his DNA on a duvet from the first scene, and he was linked to the other offences by mobile phone evidence.
Detective Sergeant Jay Robinson of the Chief Constable’s Crime Squad said: ‘Kent Police keeps people in the county safe by ensuring repeat offenders like Thatcher are behind bars.
‘I am pleased the Court of Appeal has increased the sentence on this occasion, and hope the longer jail term will prevent potential future offences.’