POLICE uncovered an "Aladdin's cave" of stolen goods when they raided a pensioner's flat.

Keith Tomlins bought toiletries, batteries and toothbrushes from shoplifters operating in Eastbourne. He sold them on at car boot sales to supplement his pension, Hove Crown Court heard yesterday.

More than £11,500 worth of stolen property was found at his home in Mountfield Road, Eastbourne, when police raided it in March.

It took officers more than five hours to record and remove the haul.

Judge Anthony Niblett was shown pictures of thousands of items which were recovered.

He said: "There's sackfuls of the stuff. You could say he was open all hours."

Items included toothbrushes and electric toothbrushes worth £1,828, toothpaste, glue and other household items worth £1,305 and air fresheners worth £451.

Tomlins, 66, was jailed for 12 months after admitting seven charges of handling stolen goods.

Ann Toynbee, prosecuting, said police targeted Tomlins after arresting local shoplifters. She said: "Officers came across an Aladdin's cave of stolen property when they searched his flat.

"After he was arrested he told them they had got him bang to rights'. On his way to the police station he told officers I have been buying it to sell at local car boot fares. I knew it was nicked'."

He later said he was selling it to supplement his pension.

The court heard Tomlins, who has been married for 30 years, had no previous convictions. Daniel Frier, defending, said Tomlins had been approached by shoplifters and asked if he wanted to buy stolen goods.

"Although the value was £11,500, he would have made far less of a profit as he paid for them and then sold them at discounted prices.

"It began as a small-scale operation but escalated. He is disgusted and ashamed of his behaviour and at his age is terrified of being sent to prison."

Judge Niblett said: "It is sad to see a man of previous good character standing in the dock. But you have been receiving stolen goods from prolific shoplifters for a prolonged period of time.

"This offence is so serious that only a custodial sentence is justified to act as a deterrent to others who might be tempted to sell stolen goods."