Simon Highmore was not light on his feet when trying to break into the property (Picture: Cavendish Press)
A burglar who tried to crawl into a children’s home through a cat flap was caught after leaving a trail of blood in his wake.
Simon Highmore, of Carlisle, entered the back yard through a garden gate, but caused damage in the process between May 5 and
When Cumbria Police came to investigate the scene, they discovered his blood on both the cat flap and the vehicles parked behind.
Following DNA analysis, Highmore was arrested for attempted burglary in May last year and sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court to 20 months in prison.
DC Louise Telford said: ‘Highmore unsuccessfully attempted to enter the property but left a trail behind leading to his identification.’
Prosecutor George Shelley mentioned the negative affect the botched burglary had on a ‘vulnerable’ child who was staying at the home.
Highmore was jailed for 20 months (Picture: Cavendish Press)
The children home’s manager said in a statement read by Mr Shelley that the child was a ‘night owl’ who would wake up to get a snack.
The statement read: ‘For a good few weeks [after the burglary], she would not leave her bedroom once the staff had gone to bed. The child also became anxious about whether windows and doors were locked.
‘It’s crucial that these children feel safe when they are living here.’
Highmore has 137 previous offences, including previous thefts and other offences. He had just been released from prison for another 18 month stretch for burglary and drug possession before the botched raid.
His lawyer said he was not aware the home he was breaking into was a children’s home, and claimed to have ‘little memory’ of what happened that evening.
His arrest led police to suspected stolen items including a Shark vacuum cleaner, a tool bag, and two Makita power drills.
More Trending
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.