Burglar left his blood at scene after £12,000 cigarette raid at Leeds shop
A burglar who stole over £12,000 worth of cigarettes during a break-in at a shop in Leeds was caught after his blood was found at the scene.
Alex Owens was given a 32-month jail sentence over the burglary at A1 News and Mini Market in Cross Gates.
Leeds Crown Court heard Owens and an accomplice targeted the store on Manston Approach in the early hours of April 14 last year.
The pair forced security shutters and smashed the glass entrance door to get inside.
Susan Evans, prosecuting, said the total value of cigarettes stolen was £12,150.
The burglars caused £4,775 worth of damage during the raid.
Owens, 29, of no fixed address, was linked to the offence after his blood was recovered from the scene.
He pleaded guilty to burglary.
The shop owner provided a victim statement to the court describing how the burglary caused him stress and anxiety.
He has suffered financially as he was unable to open the shop for two days after the incident.
Owens has previous convictions for 64 previous offences, including burglary.
He is currently serving a prison sentence for a similar burglary at a Co-op in Alwoodley in which his blood was found at the scene.Stephen Smithson, mitigating, said Owens committed the offence when he had a serious drug addiction.
Sentencing Owens, Judge Simon Phillips QC said: "It was a targeted offence at night with another."