Blood trace nails bungling thief

David Summers, 36, who was living with his mother, smashed through a conservatory door and interior window, before stealing the woman’s two televisions.

But the bungling thief, of Fielding Road, North Shore, left his blood at the scene and was subsequently traced by police.

Paul Cummings, prosecuting, said: “The lady and her four-year-old daughter left their rented house to visit relatives and they returned on January 5. They discovered they had been the subject of a burglary.

“The police made the necessary analysis and identified him from that.

“He admitted the burglary. He claimed he lived next door and at the time had been drinking.

“He said he believed the neighbour had moved out as he had seen a ‘to let’ sign. Significantly in the interview he said he had taken a bedsheet to wrap up stolen items and took them back to his mother’s. He said he sold the TVs for £50 that paid off his debt and left him with £20.”

Defending, Paul Robinson said: “He has been out of trouble for seven-and-a-half years. The report details his personal circumstances which took a turn for the worse last year. This offence occurs as a result of owing money to someone which he used to buy drink.”

Judge Graham Knowles said: “It’s a very unattractive feature that it was a neighbour’s house and no doubt distressing.”