A Romanian thief who stripped over £100,000 of lead from the roofs of rural churches leaving one facing closure after 800 years has been jailed for five years.

A judge told Remus Tudorache, 27, that he could face deportation after admitting carrying out a string of devastating thefts in 2015, as well as being part of a gang which targeted others.

St Mary’s Church in Baconsthorpe, Norfolk, which dates back to the 13th Century, was the hardest hit as Tudorache targeted it twice - leaving locals fearing for its future.

A court heard his gang ripped lead worth £100,000 from its roof after the small band of parishioners fought for two years to raise £120,000 to fund vital restoration work.

In an impact statement, Corinne Youngs, secretary of Baconsthorpe Parochial Church Council, said the brutal blow had left the medieval church "crushed and devastated".

Canon Paul Thomas, also from the church, said worshippers were "appalled and some were in tears" following the devastating raid after they'd worked so hard to help restore the church.