Burglary blunder of heroin addict
6:11pm Monday 12th May 2008
THE butt of a hand-rolled cigarette led to a drug addict being snared for stealing jewellery and hundreds of pounds in cash during a New Year burglary.
Matthew John Dodson's lust for money to buy heroin drove him to break into an empty home in the Acomb area of York and rifle through rooms for loot.
But he left a vital clue - a cigarette containing traces of his DNA - and the 34-year-old is now starting a three-year jail sentence after admitting the burglary.
York Crown Court heard how Dodson, of Middleton Road, York, who has a string of convictions for burglary, jemmied a window to get into the house in Almsford Drive between New Year's Eve and the early hours of New Year's Day.
"The property had been vacated for a short period by the occupants, who were away for the New Year," said Alan Mitcheson, prosecuting. "Dodson removed jewellery and £390 in cash following a search downstairs and one of the bedrooms upstairs, but was careless enough to leave behind a handrolled cigarette butt which, when analysed for DNA, led to police identifying him.
"When interviewed, he initially denied the offence, but conceded he had been in the area around the time of the burglary visiting friends or relations for a New Year's party. He could not provide a reasonable excuse for why the cigarette butt had been found in the kitchen."
He said Dodson had eventually owned up to the burglary and asked for five other offences, which had seen property worth more than £2,500 being stolen, to be taken into consideration.
Colin Byrne, defending Dodson, said he had been made homeless following an earlier prison sentence, after which he had found accommodation and work as a landscape gardener through the Arc Light Centre in York. But he was kicked out of there after his heroin use was discovered.
"These offences were committed to fund his drug addiction and to pay for the debts he had accrued," he said.
"While in custody, he has engaged in a number of courses to try and deal with this addiction, but he is realistic about the sentence he can expect to receive."
A letter from Dodson's girlfriend, Karen Smith, outlining his attempts to free himself of drugs was also handed to the court.
Sentencing him, Judge Stephen Ashurst said: "I am extremely impressed by what she has said on your behalf. There is a good woman waiting for you on the outside.
"I know that when you lost your accommodation, things went from bad to worse for you, but I have to consider the other side of the equation - that victims of burglaries look to the courts for protection.
"I hope you will not let people down again."