Rotherham safe raider trapped by traces of blood

Patrick Chambers (32), broke into the home of a car dealer whom he knew would be out, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

When the man returned home at 2.30am he found a thief had entered the house by smashing a ground-floor kitchen window.

The safe and a computer lap-top bag had been removed from the bedroom, said Mr Carl Fitch, prosecuting.

Police inquiries led to Chambers who had overheard a conversation between his sister and her ex-partner, the burglary victim, about him being out for the night.

Blood was matched to Chambers at the scene and the safe — minus the cash — was found in the garden.

Chambers, of Plantation Walk, Dinnington, was arrested and initially denied the offence before claiming the premises had already been burgled when he got there.

He has previous convictions for criminal damage and possession of cannabis. He admitted burgling the Rotherham home on January 25.

The court heard the motivation for his offending was drug use, which had not been addressed.

Judge Roger Keen told Chambers he had lied about how he committed the offence and there was an element of revenge involved.

“It was planned and it was at night when you knew your victim was out and you removed his safe and a large amount of money,” said the judge.

“It is far too serious for anything other than custody.”