AN Oldbury burglar claimed he raided a pensioner’s home after spotting it had already been broken into when he went to retrieve his dog from the garden.

Mark Huxley was jailed for 15 months by Wolverhampton Crown Court after being tracked down by police through DNA testing from a spot of blood he left on a piece of broken glass.

Edward Soulsby, prosecuting, said property worth more than £300 was stolen from the 65-year-old’s Dudley house.

Huxley, aged 33, of Thompson Road, admitted burglary but did not accept responsibility for all the goods that were taken.

Described as having a “bad” criminal record, he also asked for a charge of attempting to steal property from a parked lorry to be taken into consideration.

Benjamin Nicholls, defending, said Huxley had a history of drug abuse, but had become clean during his time on remand in custody.