[Harry!]

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/portsmou...-at.5059361.jp



A dopey burglar was caught after dropping his handkerchief in the house he was raiding.
Timothy Mcleod got away with a television set and a jacket.

But the serial crook was nailed by police after they examined the hanky and found traces of his DNA.

The 46-year-old drug addict, who had a string of previous convictions for burglary, has now been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Police today branded him 'stupid'.

PC Catherine Stacey, who investigated the case, said: 'He was caught through DNA identification after he left a handkerchief in the kitchen. He had a hanky with him and he was stupid enough to leave it behind.'

Mcleod was on licence from a four-year prison sentence for drugs offences when the burglary took place in Clegg Road, Eastney, on October 14 last year.

And just eight days earlier he had broken into another home in Queens Street, Portsea, and stolen jewellery.

At Portsmouth Crown Court, Judge Roger Hetherington told Mcleod, of St Mary's Road, Portsmouth, he had no choice but to send him to jail.

'My primary duty must be to reflect that you have committed these further offences,' he said.

'I would be failing in my duty if I allowed the public to be put at risk by giving you a community order.'

PC Stacey, who is part of Southsea police station's priority crime unit, said: 'Police are very pleased with the prison sentence imposed against this career criminal for the serious offence of dwelling burglary.

'The sentence sends out the message to people who commit this type of crime that they will be dealt with robustly.'

Detective Inspector Nigel Oliver, from the priority crime unit, added: 'It's a pretty robust sentence and I think it's the appropriate sentence for his offences.'

Mcleod admitted two counts of burglary and a further offence of handling stolen goods.