A burglar who was caught out by DNA evidence linking him to a crime scene has been jailed.

Steven Ricketts left blood at the address in Goodwin Avenue, Warley after breaking in and making off with hundreds of pounds worth of jewellery.

He was jailed by magistrates in Warley for 18 weeks.The 36-year-old, of Dimmingsdale Bank, Quinton, had already pleaded guilty to burglary at an earlier hearing.

He also admitted breach of a conditional discharge for which he was given a four-week prison sentence which will run concurrently.

Miss Maxine Jarrousse, prosecuting, told the court that on February 24 the complainant left her home at 7.45am.

She returned at 7.40pm and discovered that the house had been broken into.The court heard the victim found an upstairs window had been smashed costing £300 to replace and two panes of glass in doors had been damaged.

Jewellery worth £700 had been taken – two pairs of gold earrings worth £200, two rings worth £400 and a gold necklace worth £100.

Mr Kevin Good, defending, said: “He would ask me to echo his remorse and apology to the court. It’s not about his fear of further incarceration, it is his remorse for his actions.”