A DOPEY burglar who cut himself during a break-in cleaned up the blood with kitchen roll - then left behind the tell-tale towel.

Police linked DNA from the crumpled piece of paper to Michael Townsend - a career criminal with more than 50 offences on his record.

Townsend was today (Wednesday) locked up for three years after Teesside Crown Court heard how the raid had traumatised the householder.

In an impact statement, the victim said: "It is not fair that someone should have so little regard for another person's home.

"I have been left terrified. It has left me upset, and I find myself crying at the thought of a stranger being in my home.

"I'm scared to be in my own house alone . . . every time I hear a bang, I jump, and I think someone is coming back."

The student - who lives with her father in the house in Lazenby, east Cleveland - lost a laptop containing her university work.

Townsend also took three televisions, audio equipment, two pairs of new training shoes and clothing - all worth almost £3,500.

Alex Bousfield, mitigating, said: "Thankfully, there wasn't any confrontation, but it has caused significant upset nonetheless."

In her statement, the victim said she was more upset about her home being invaded than the lost belongings which are replaceable.

But she added: "My university work was kept on my laptop. This all has to he done again. It's not my fault, and it's not fair."

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, branded Townsend "a prolific offender" and told him: "The effect of what you did has been significant."

Townsend, of Pasture Lane, Lazenby, admitted the April 7 burglary when he appeared in court via a live-video link from prison.

Prosecutor Harry Hadfield told the court that the occupants went out for the night before he struck some time around 9.30pm.

"When the police were called, a crumpled piece of kitchen paper containing blood stains was found on the worktop," he said.

"That was tested and a DNA match was made between this defendant and the blood left on that item."