A BURGLAR was caught after he left DNA on a discarded spoon he used to eat a stolen cheesecake with.

Jason Stratford, 36, appeared before Cheltenham Magistrates' Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to burglary at a bar in Cirencester .

On Saturday, January 2, at approximately 1am he entered the premises and began stealing several bottles of alcohol.

In the process he also helped himself to a cheesecake and dropped the spoon he was using on the floor.

Stratford was caught on CCTV and was also identified by members of staff who later confronted him and recovered a set of keys which he had stolen.

Cotswold local policing officers used the DNA from the discarded spoon to forensically link Stratford to the scene and to later charge him with the offence.

His crimes that evening totalled £1,846 and he was sentenced to 18 weeks and to pay compensation of £1,825.

Stratford's offending also activated a 16-week suspended sentence he had been given for a previous burglary in August last year which has led to him being jailed for a total of 34 weeks.

Speaking on behalf of investigating officer PC Mike Lee, DC Nick Henry said: "Burglary is a callous crime, targeting a business that has already likely been damaged due to the pandemic.

"We wish to thank the staff members for their vigilance in assisting the investigation and bringing this offender to justice, ultimately taking him off of the streets of Cirencester.

"Gloucestershire Constabulary hopes that the sentence sends a message that criminal activity, regardless of the pandemic, will not be tolerated and criminals will be brought to justice."