Blackpool burglar caught by cigarette butt DNA
10:58am Friday 16th May 2008
A burglar who left a discarded a cigarette butt at the Blackpool property he burgled was caught five years later by his DNA.
Preston Crown Court was told the cigarette end was found after a property in Bispham Road, Blackpool, was burgled.
Edward Miller, 41, of Park Road, Blackpool, admitted burglary.
He was also in court for sentence for stealing goods worth £44.20 from M&S in Blackpool on December 22 last year.
He was also in breach of a suspended prison sentence and was given a 24 week consecutive sentence.
Mr David Traynor, prosecuting, told the court jewelley worth £1500 was stolen during the burglary.
Mr Michael Hayton, defending, said Miller was a long term heroin user and was now on a methadone programme. He knew he faced custody.
Recorder Paul O'Brien said: "For reasons that cannot be explained scientific evidence was not available until recently."
Miller was jailed for 12 months.