Jacksdale burglar caught by DNA and phone records

Stuart Michael Vaughan, 21, of HMP Ranby, admitted burglary when he appeared at Mansfield Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The court heard a next door neighbour raised the alarm when he saw two figures in the conservatory of the house on Westmorland Way, at 2am on January 8.

Police found a window pane had been removed and a paint scraper, with traces of Vaughan’s DNA, was discovered at the scene.

Rod Chapman, prosecuting, said: “Mr Vaughan claimed he was at home in bed at the time, but analysis of his phone showed he had been in Selston at 12.40am before returning home at 3am.”

The court heard tool marks were found on the kitchen and bathroom windows, wiring for a security light had been cut and an unsuccessful attempt had been made to break into a shed.

In March, magistrates heard that Vaughan was sentenced to 16 months in prison for two dwelling house burglaries committed in December 2015 and early January.

Melanie Hoffman, mitigating, said: “He was in a bad situation at the time. He was homeless and he had a cannabis habit. He was stealing to feed himself and fund the habit.”

She said Vaughan had trained as a joiner but failed to find work and got into a ‘pattern of offending’.

“He has had the opportunity to consider the impact of his offending,” Ms Hoffman said. “He tells me he doesn’t plan to follow this route.

“He wants to move from this area so he doesn’t associate with the same people.”

Magistrates gave him six months which will run at the same time as his current sentence. He was ordered to pay £50 compensation to the home owner.