DNA on half-eaten cookie helps police track guitar thief

A HUNGRY thief who munched on a biscuit while he broke into a car was tracked down by police who found his DNA on the half-eaten snack.

Craig Legg, aged 19, smashed a window and bent back the driver’s door of a Ford Escort parked in Mere Gardens, Bolton, UK, on August 28.

He stole a guitar and a CD player, worth a total of £140, but a half-eaten biscuit found in the vehicle led officers straight to his door, a court heard.

The guitar was recovered from his bedroom in Chorley Old Road, Bolton, after police arrested him the same day.

Howard Sloane, prosecuting, said: “The vehicle was left secured and undamaged, but when the owner got up the following morning she saw it had been subject to a theft.

“DNA was retrieved from a half-eaten biscuit which was found, and he was arrested the same day.

“He said to police ‘I am sorry the guitar is in my room’ and it was recovered from the defendant’s address.”

Bolton Magistrates’ Court heard that he had been drinking vodka and lager all day and could not remember breaking into the car, but accepted he did it and pleaded guilty to theft.

He also pleaded guilty to criminal damage which happened on August 11.

The court heard he had lost his key to the front door of the hostel where he was living, and he kicked the door out of frustration when he could not get in.

It caused £208 worth of damage, and he was identified as the offender from CCTV footage.

Jane Novas-Morell, defending, said: “He has swapped a heroin addiction for a problem with alcohol.

“He has been in and out of care and he does not have the best parental guidance as both his parents have problems with drugs.

“He has been at Bolton House for four months. He has not offended since he was released from prison in January and that is quite an achievement looking at his history.”

The case was adjourned until Tuesday so that a pre-sentence report can be prepared.

Source: http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/