Jail for burglar caught by sweat

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A "prolific" burglar who was caught by a bead of sweat he left at a crime scene has been jailed for four years.

Police arrested Simon Moran, 38, after matching his DNA with a sample on their database, Preston Crown Court heard.

Moran, from Astley Bridge, near Bolton, wiped his brow with a glove which transferred the sweat on to a plastic bag, the court was told.

At an earlier hearing, he admitted six counts of burglary. A further 96 offences were taken into account.

Moran mainly targeted homes of the elderly at night in Lancashire. He committed more than 100 break-ins within a 16-month period.

He was perspiring heavily and the sweat which he wiped with his glove led to his detection Det Con Chris McCreadie

The former UPVC door and window fitter used his experience to disable locks and gain entry.

He was finally caught after a raid on a 83-year-old woman's house in Blackburn in July this year.

Moran confronted her and went upstairs, where he took a plastic bag containing a purse and other personal items.

But the DNA from the plastic bag he had left at the scene led to his arrest.

The court heard that the defendant had resorted to the burglary spree to pay off drug debts.

He previously had a clean record since he was last jailed for 30 months for burglary in 1995.

Det Con Chris McCreadie, investigating officer, said: "Moran panicked when he was confronted with his elderly victim.

"He was perspiring heavily and the sweat which he wiped with his glove led to his detection.

"He was a prolific offender who was clearly targeting homes in Lancashire along the M65 corridor, which he had good access to from his home."