Police traced a burglar who stole a £27,000 car from outside a house in Huddersfield because he left some blood at the scene of his crime.
The victim of the offence had left his home locked and secure in Lightridge Road, Fixby, on October 10 but returned to find a window in the kitchen was broken.
Mehran Nassiri, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court he then discovered an intruder had taken the house keys, a Samsung tablet and the keys to a Mercedes Benz A class car which had been stolen.
A scene of crime officer discovered some traces of blood which matched the DNA of Nathan John Dick who was then on licence following his release from a 40 month sentence for burglary.
When he was arrested he denied at that time having been to the property and when later told about the forensic evidence he still maintained he was not responsible.
Neither the car for the tablet worth £200 were recovered.
Carl Kingsley, representing Dick, said he now accepted guilt. He was released on licence in November last year and was looking for work.
“He is upset for himself at having committed this offence and breaking what was his good intentions when released,” said Mr Kingsley.
He said Dick had a problem with drink and Codeine which he takes on a regular basis in addition to prescribed drugs for depression.
Dick, 28 of no fixed address was jailed for 40 months after admitting the burglary and theft of the car.
Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said he accepted he had kept out of trouble for almost a year but there had to be a significant sentence.
“You have a terrible record for offences of burglary,” he said. “Burglary causes untold misery to householders. This involved valuable property – a £27,000 car which you disposed of very quickly – no doubt for significant profit and I presume targeted that property because the car was on the drive.”
