A discarded cigarette butt led police to a burglar after his DNA was found on it by forensic scientists.

Jason Armitage Greenheld confessed to a spate of burglaries and other offences when detectives confronted him with the incriminating stub, York Crown Court heard.

But instead of more than doubling his current 12-month jail sentence, assistant recorder Michael Smith gave the addict and burglar a chance to prove he could kick both his criminal and heroin habits.

The judge deferred sentence for several months after Greenheld is due to be released from prison on condition he goes to a drug rehabilitation centre, gets a settled address and keeps out of trouble and off drugs.

"Your future is entirely in your hands. If you mess it up you know the consequences," said the judge, warning that if Greenheld breaks the conditions, he will be jailed for at least 15 months.

Greenheld, 28, no fixed address, pleaded guilty to two burglaries and asked for two more house burglaries, a pub burglary, a garage break-in, a storehouse break-in, a theft and criminal damage to be taken into consideration.

Adam Rhys-Davies, prosecuting, said a house off Tadcaster Road, York, had its window smashed and two briefcases stolen.

But blood found at the scene matched Greenheld's.

On October 22, 1999, a house in Bishopthorpe was the scene of a £550 break-in. Most of the stolen property was found the next day in a nearby house.

Forensic scientists found Greenheld's DNA on a cigarette butt in the house.

Questioned in prison, Greenheld admitted both break-ins and all the matters to be taken into consideration.

He will be released on April 24 after serving 12 months for a different burglary, car crimes, and possessing drugs.

Simon Hickey, for Greenheld, said that most of the evidence against him came from his confession.

He was trying to kick his habit. The break-ins were smash-and-grab type and in the case of the criminal damage he had merely gone into the house to sleep there.

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