A BURGLAR was caught after injuring himself while breaking into a house.

James Turner smashed his way into a house in Holmes Street, Great Lever, through a rear window.

But Bolton Crown Court heard how 45-year-old Turner cut himself on the glass, leaving traces of his blood.

The DNA was matched to Turner, who has previous convictions for burglaries and he was arrested.

At Bolton Crown Court Turner, of Skelwith Avenue, Great Lever, was jailed for two years and 146 days by Judge Timothy Stead.

Virginia Hayton, prosecuting, told the court how Harry Walker had left his home at 11am to visit his father and discovered the break-in when he returned at 9pm.

“Whe he walked into the living room he noticed a ground floor window was smashed and there were muddy footprints on his laminate flooring,” said Miss Hayton.

A television, freeview box, remote controls, keys and an ornament had been taken.

When arrested Turner denied he had been at the house, claiming he had spent the day at his mother’s home.

He was due to stand trial for the crime, shortly beforehand he changed his plea to guilty. The court heard that Turner has 24 previous convictions for 68 offences.