A prolific burglar was caught after traces of his blood were recovered from the scene of his latest raid.
David Evans targeted a Stockton Brough Council office block and smashed his way in through a window before stealing electrical equipment.
Teesside Crown Court heard how the 41-year-old left the local authority out of pocket to the tune of £2,620 following the burglary between January 23 and 24 this year.
Anthony Pettengell, prosecuting, the defendant was arrested after traces of his blood and DNA were recovered from the scene.
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He said: “In police interview he said he didn’t remember causing any damage while he was there and he said he sold the goods for drugs.”
The court heard he 25 convictions for 55 offences, including 20 non-domestic burglaries and five dwelling house burglaries.
At the time of the burglary, Evans was serving a community order for a burglary at a dental practice in Norton but now finds himself back behind bars.
Evans, of no fixed abode, was found guilty of the non-domestic burglary after failing to attend his trial. He did plead guilty to breaching his community order imposed for previous burglaries.
Nigel Soppitt, mitigating, said his client was ‘living a fairly tragic existence’ after being diagnosed with schizophrenia and living homeless for almost 20 years.
He added: “He accepts that prison is sadly better for him than sleeping on park benches and on the streets. He was using drink and drugs to quell the voices in his head.”
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Recorder Andrew Dallas sentenced the serial offender to a total of 19 months in custody.
He said: “I’m not going to pass a sentence that will provide a long-term home in prison, so you’re going to have think about what you are going to do when you get out.
“The courts gave you two chances this year and you failed to take those chances.
“The sentence must be prison due to the seriousness of the offence as it crosses the custody threshold.”
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