DNA helps to convict man who stole car

10:07am Friday 4th July 2008

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A REPEAT burglar is beginning his latest extended stay in prison following a house break-in earlier this year.

Rocky Kyle Brennan immediately went back behind bars when he was arrested thanks to analysis of DNA taken from a car driven away from a house in Chester-le-Street, on February 7.

Durham Crown Court heard that the Toyota Yaris was parked outside the property in Westwood Terrace late that afternoon.

Sometime during the evening, the house was entered and the car keys were taken from the kitchen.

Steven Orange, prosecuting, said nothing else appeared to have been taken from the house, but on checking outside, the owner saw the car was gone.

Mr Orange said police saw the car being driven in Waldridge Road, Chester-le- Street, at about 1am the following morning.

Minutes later officers found it abandoned and both Brennan and another youth were arrested nearby.

Brennan had a small amount of amphetamines.

Mr Orange said DNA evidence proved he had been behind the wheel of the car, which was returned to the owner, but it was damaged.

As a result of his arrest, Brennan was immediately returned to prison to serve the unserved portion of a previous 30-month prison sentence imposed for three burglaries, in 2005.

Mr Orange said this was his fifth court appearance to answer burglary charges.

Twenty-two-year-old Brennan, of The Crescent, Chesterle- Street, admitted burglary, taking the Toyota Yaris without the owner's consent, and possession of amphetamines.

Euan Duff, mitigating, said the most recent break-in was, "low down the scale" for such offences. "There was no ransacking and no wanton damage,"

he said.

It was evening rather than night time and only the car keys were taken.

"It was a burglary which was otherwise unremarkable and the house was not apparently occupied at the particular time, although the householder was understandably upset on finding out."

Mr Duff added: "His problem has been his penchant for driving other people's cars."

Jailing Brennan for a total of two years and five months, Recorder David Dobbin told him: "You're a young man with a bad record of vehiclerelated and burglary offences."