Bristol burglar caught by drops of blood

A prolific Bristol burglar caught after leaving drops of his blood at the scene has been jailed for five years.

Shaun Coles smashed his way into his victim's Southville home and stole a £750 laptop computer to pay off a drug debt.

Coles, 42, of no fixed abode was arrested after drops of his blood found on a duvet were analysed and matched his DNA.

He later pleaded guilty to one charge of burglary.

William Hunter, prosecuting at Bristol Crown Court, said Roseyna Jahangir left her home in Coronation Road, locked and secure on the morning of August 26.

"When she returned home she found her bedroom had been searched. There was glass on the floor. She realised there had been a burglary," he said.

"Her landlady's door was damaged. Her laptop computer and charger, worth £750, had been stolen.

"She found two spots of blood on her duvet.

"On analysis it was found to be the defendant's blood."

He said Coles was arrested on September 11 and told police he had smashed a ground floor window with a brick.

He said Coles, who has convictions for 105 previous offences, including 12 burglaries, had sold the laptop for £100 to clear a drugs debt and buy heroin.

Catherine Spedding defending Coles, said her client had remained drug free for five months after being released on licence from a previous five-year prison sentence for burglary.

She said he started abusing drugs again when he met up with his old friends then offended to pay off his debts.

Jailing Coles for five years, Judge Julian Lambert said: "You are 42 and a hopeless burglar.

"You constantly defile people's homes when you are able to do so.

"You can't stay off drugs or out of people's houses."