A bungling burglar was easily caught by police after he left his DNA behind during a break-in when he helped himself to a teacake.

Russell Archer, 42, couldn't resist the sweet snack after he smashed his way into a property while the occupants were away on holiday in September. 

He deactivated the burglar alarm and took three TV sets, two DVD players, a vacuum cleaner, a steam mop, cameras, jewellery, watches, wine and £180 in cash 

But before he fled the house in Leicester, he stopped in the kitchen and ate a teacake from the table - leaving behind DNA evidence on the wrapper. 

The crook then fled with £5,000 worth of valuables as well as the family Ford Fiesta from the garage, which was worth £6,000. 

On Friday (2/11) Archer admitted two counts of burglary, after he was linked to another break-in the following month, again as a result of DNA evidence. 

The career criminal - who has 96 previous offences including 19 burglaries - was jailed for four years and eight months at Leicester Crown Court. 

Sentencing, Recorder William Edis QC said: "You have an appalling record of 96 offences, of which 68 are theft-related and of those, no fewer than 19 are domestic burglaries. 

"You started stealing other people's property in 1985 and virtually haven't stopped since. 

"You have been repeatedly sent to prison and been given countless opportunities to stop offending. 

"You're a professional criminal who specialises in domestic burglary. 

"Protection of the public from you is at the forefront of the court's mind; to give society a significant rest from your activities." 

Lynsey Knott, prosecuting, told the court how the property and vehicle were never recovered following the first break in. 

She said he was then linked to the second burglary because his DNA was detected from blood at the scene, after he smashed a window to get in. 

When arrested, he was also found in possession of a small amount of cannabis. 

Vasanti Vaitha, defending, said after his last release from prison, Archer moved to Plymouth, gave up drugs and found work - and only visited Leicestershire to assist his elderly mother. 

She added that former associates to whom he owed drug money got in touch wanting their cash, which led to him committing the offences.