Blackpool burglar caught by cigarette butt DNA

10:58am Friday 16th May 2008

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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.