A THIEF who left his blood at the scene of a garage break-in has been spared immediate jail by a judge who said he was taking a chance on him.

Daniel Lawrence said he was paid £45 in order to take part in the raid on a car compound belonging to Lookers, in Middlesbrough.

The 29-year-old admitted causing £8,422 of damage to a Volkswagen Passat and the theft of five alloy wheels valued at £2,000.

Prosecutor Harry Hadfield told Teesside Crown Court that a wire fence was cut to gain access to the compound, which stored new and unregistered vehicles.

The windows of the Passat were broken and a car jack taken along with the alloy wheels. Lawrence’s blood was left inside the vehicle and DNA from it later matched to the defendant.

Mr Hadfield said the crime had been a team effort with other vehicles targeted by unknown individuals between March 21 and 24.

Lawrence, of Northcliffe Street, North Ormesby, Middlesbrough, was said to have been “led astray” by others to take part in what the court heard was an “amateurish” offence.

He admitted criminal damage and theft and had been recalled to prison after breaching the terms of his prison licence.

Recorder Tom Little told Lawrence, who has 103 past criminal convictions, that he had an appalling record.

The judge suspended a 12 month jail sentence on him for two years and made him subject to a six month drug treatment order.

He will also observe a three month night-time curfew between 9pm and 6am at his home.