A burglar who cut himself during a raid on a post office was tracked down through the blood he left in the shop and getaway car.
A court yesterday heard that Paul Smith, who has a lengthy police record, was traced by police through his DNA.
Mark Williams, prosecuting, told Harborough magistrates: "Two men in hoods were captured on CCTV breaking into the post office in Broughton Astley.
"One kicked in the door and Smith was seen jumping the counter and cutting himself.
"Forensics officers later found blood in the shop and on the steering wheel of the Ford Fiesta used in the raid. The blood belonged to Smith."
The raid occurred at the Station Road premises at about 2.30am on January 14.
Smith and his accomplice broke into the locked display of cigarettes and stole tobacco products worth �2,500. Damage to the shop door cost �226.
The stolen Fiesta was later recovered and some items belonging to the owner were missing, the court was told.
Mr Williams said Smith (32), of Welford Road, Blaby, had committed 49 offences of dishonesty and had been jailed twice for burgling commercial premises.
Smith pleaded guilty to burglary and to taking the Fiesta without the owner's consent, on January 14.
Kerri Pattrick, for Smith, said: "My client has kept out of trouble for a long time. The last prison sentence was in 2003."
She said Smith returned to crime because he was out of work, did not have any money and was not entitled to claim benefits.
He was granted bail until May 19 while a report is prepared.
 |  |
Gay and lesbian travel Sam Allardyce St Lucia Chelsea Small business Foreign currency
No comments:
Post a Comment