A CAREER criminal who was traced by the DNA on his discarded cigarette butt has been jailed for two and a half years.

Father-of-two Franklin Alexander admitted burgling a house in Wimborne Road, Poole between June 22 and July 1 this year and burgling a flat, with intent, at Oakdale Road, Poole on September 8 this year.

Alexander, 33, of Knight's Close, Blandford St Mary, also pleaded guilty to eight dwelling house burglaries and two attempted burglaries between July and September this year.

Prosecuting at Bournemouth Crown Court, Timothy Coombes said Alexander's Wimborne Road victims had returned from holiday to find their car had gone and their home ransacked.

Their car key, jewellery, electrical goods and alcohol worth £843 were missing.

"The car was recovered, some time later, abandoned in Reading," added Mr Coombes.

"A cigarette butt was found in the car and this defendant's DNA was on that cigarette."

The court heard how Alexander's intended victim in Oakdale Road had returned to find him in his flat. Mr Coombes said Alexander had left empty-handed after being challenged and claiming he was visiting another property in the block.

Defending Alexander, Stephen Cotton said: "He is absolutely determined to get himself off class A drugs but, after ten years of being addicted, he is finding it very difficult to break the habit."

Sentencing Alexander, Recorder Peter Wright told him: "There will be an opportunity for you to address your drug problem in prison.

First published: Oct 16