Bungling burglar left trail of his own blood everywhere as he raided empty house

A left a trail of his own blood in a raid on an empty house, leading police right to his doorstep.

Police were alerted to a burglary in an on August 3 where patio doors had been broken to gain entry. Officers found blood on the ground and on a door of the rental home which matched that found in a separate incident on the same day where a car was broken into, Hull Crown Court heard.

The blood was later found to be that of regular offender Paul Atkinson’s and he was arrested at his home, reported. He had been assaulted the same day, causing the trail of blood.

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Michael Masson, prosecuting, said: "A trail of blood was running down the right side of the property. One of the patio doors had been broken off. There was a trail of blood to his car and there was blood inside and outside the car. There was a considerable amount of blood.”

In another offence, Atkinson handled power tools were stolen from a house in June where the occupier was awoken and became aware of noises in the house. She discovered power tools, valued at £250, were missing.

She went to a second-hand shop in Newland Avenue, Hull, on June 27 and spotted Atkinson come in and try to sell the tools. It was confirmed they had been stolen from her home.

Oliver Shipley, mitigating, said Atkinson had been the victim of an assault a few hours before the burglary. He said: “He made admissions in interview. He fell into a very dark place and it has led to his offending. There was some planning."

Judge John Thackray KC told Atkinson: "All dwelling house burglaries are serious because it involves the invasion of someone's home. You have got a very significant history. You are essentially serving a life sentence in instalments. You will just continue to be going in and out of prison for the rest of your life."

Atkinson, who was already in custody on remand, was jailed for three years.