Sauce DNA traps thief who trashed man's flat

Jerome Jones was among a group who ransacked the flat in Smirthwaite View, Normanton, Wakefield, while the occupant was away at his girlfriend's, Mehran Nassiri prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court.

He returned on April 7 to discover a horrifying trail of damage which included food emptied out of the freezer, clothes strewn around and a take-away pizza rubbed into the carpet. A boiler and plumbing had also been damaged and items worth 450 were missing.

When arrested Jones said he had received a call from a 15-year-old telling him he and others were already in the flat and suggesting he join in. He said he had only stayed 15 minutes while others remained for days.

Jones, 19 was sent to a young offender institution for two-and-a-half years after admitting burglary and failing to comply with a suspended sentence and unpaid work order imposed in April for affray and having a bladed article.

Judge Kerry Macgill said they were serious offences committed while he was on bail for affray.

Martin Robertshaw for Jones said he had been given a chance with the order in April but accepted his response to the unpaid work had been poor.

In the past he had a chaotic lifestyle and found himself homeless. The burglary was not for financial gain but a stupid and juvenile response to some damage he believed had been caused at his girlfriend's flat.