Jailed man did not even know which country currency came from Burglar gave own details when selling stolen cash

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I am bound to say, because it was sure to attract attention to himself. Tanzanian currency is hardly common here.

“And to give his own details, well, that was stupid.”

Worthington had no fixed address after leaving prison and had been sofa-surfing.

In July, someone broke into the home of Mark Foley in Cross Street and stole a laptop and the foreign money.

Shortly afterwards Worthington was spotted walking into the bureau de change in Canterbury’s High Street.

Mr Foley would later tell police that the family had been affected emotionally “by the violation of my home and great distress caused to my 11-year-old daughter who feared the thieves would return”.

Prosecutor Jim Harvey said: “The bureau assistant describes this male, carrying a briefcasesized bag, coming in to exchange currency.

“Initially he said he didn’t know where the currency was from, saying that his mother had come into possession of it during the course of a trip.

“She was able to identify the 250 notes but told him she couldn’t accept the currency for exchange. He then produced a number of euros and was given £135.

“We know that it was the defendant because he gave his name to the store.” Worthington was later arrested and told police he was given the money by a friend who “he didn’t want to name”.

The court heard he was then given police bail and in August went to the King’s School in Canterbury and broke in through a window and stole a £150 iPad from English lecturer Benjamin Hurrell.

Difficult

Police watched the CCTV footage and recognised Worthington’s image and he was arrested again.

Philip Rowley, defending, said the defendant had a very difficult upbringing with little parental support after the break-up of his parents’ marriage.

But Judge O’Mahony, in jailing him for a total of 39 months for handling stolen goods and burglary, said: “Yours is a very sad story.

“I wish there was a magic wand which could be waved and we could say we have a cure for you. But this is of your own doing and you are responsible for your own actions.”

Darren Worthington