A BURGLAR who stole more than £2,000 worth of Christmas presents and jewellery from a family in Bradford was caught after leaving his DNA on a screwdriver, a court heard.

Warren Bonfield, 48, who was yesterday jailed for 21 months, had used the tool to disassemble a television set that he was stealing from a house in Hill Crest Road, Thornton.

Prosecutor John Bull told a sentencing hearing at Bradford Crown Court that the homeowner had used the screwdriver a couple of days earlier to assemble the TV, which was a Christmas present for his daughter.

He said: “It had been used to disassemble the TV to put it in the box. His DNA was on the screwdriver.

“More than £2,000 worth of property was stolen. It was mainly Christmas presents and two wedding rings and other items of electrical equipment. The family was upset by what had taken place.”

The burglary happened on December 29 last year, two days after the family had gone on holiday.

Mr Bull said a neighbour went to check on the house at about 7.15am and realised someone was inside. That person ran off before the neighbour got to them.

The court was told that a TV had been boxed up and left in the kitchen. The rear patio doors at the house had also been forced open, causing £300 of damage.

Bonfield claimed he had been given information that a burglary had already taken place and there was a TV left over if he wanted to go and take it.

Bonfield, of Coldbeck Drive, Buttershaw, had 45 convictions for 143 offences, including burglary, theft and possession of drugs, the court heard. He was also in breach of a suspended sentence he received for battery.

Bonfield was arrested for the Thornton burglary on March 28. He pleaded guilty on April 26 to the offence.

Andrew Walker, for Bonfield, said: “He accepts he simply cannot go on like this.”

Judge Peter Benson said: “The house had been ransacked, whether by you or others is not clear. Your account was that others had done it and told you that a TV was available. There is some scepticism about that account.”