Bungling burglar left his name and address behind
A bungling burglar who accidentally left his full name and address at a property he had just raided has been put behind bars.
Malcom Pyke broke into a garage, which was attached to a house, in Sunderland and stole cleaning machinery worth £150.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the homeowner was d i s tu rb e d by a n o i s e th e 43-year-old had made while carrying out the raid in the early morning of March 6.
Prosecutor Peter Schofield said the householder found that the intruder had left behind a bag containing personal items, including letters which displayed his full name and address, inside the garage.
As a result of the information, police were able to quickly track the raider down and arrest him.
Mr Shofield said officers had a ‘relatively straightforward task’ in tracking down the offender.
Pyke, of Tanfield Road, Sunderland, admitted burglary.
He also admitted burglary of a shed and two offences of theft of property, including designer clothing from a washing line, from outside houses in the same street in Palmersville, North Tyneside, in the early hours of July 1.
Judge Sarah Mallett sentenced Pyke, who has a "long list" of previous convictions and was on a community order at the time, to a total of four years behind bars.
Vic Laffey, defending, said Pyke has worked with the authorities while in prison on remand and has now stopped taking drugs.
Mr Laffey said Pyke has obtained certificates for his hard work in jail.
He said he is keen to play a positive role in his children's lives in future.