Bungling Burglar Jailed

From The Yorkshire Evening Post:

A BUNGLING burglar was caught after he cut his finger and left blood at the scene of his crime.

Ashraf Waliyat smashed a window to get into the student house in Headingley Crescent, Leeds, and made off with a £1,600 haul including four laptops.

But he left behind a smear of blood on a windowsill – a DNA "calling card" which allowed police to identify him almost immediately.

When he was arrested Waliyat maintained his innocence, offering up a bizarre story that his gloves had been stolen from his coat.

They just happened to have been soaked in his blood, he attested.

Brought before Leeds Crown Court, he pleaded not guilty to the burglary which took place on December 6 last year.

However, just before his trial was due to take place, he changed his mind and admitted the crime.

Prosecuting, James Lake said when interviewed by police Waliyat had denied ever visiting the property.

He said: "Trying to account for the blood (Waliyat] said his gloves had been stolen from his coat and they had been soaked in this blood. He denied cutting his finger in the burglary."

The court was told Waliyat, 38, from Autumn Terrace, Burley, Leeds, had a long history of offending including for drugs, theft and shoplifting.
In mitigation, Timothy Jacobs said his client was vulnerable and had contact with mental health services.

He was also on a drug intervention programme and was making progress, he added. Judge Mr Recorder Bernard Gateshill adjourning the case for a psychiatric report on Waliyat.

He told him: "It seems to me that the court would have benefit from a psychiatric report about you. Clearly you have had troubles in the recent past.

"The fact I am adjourning your case for a report shouldn't be taken by you as any indication of what your sentence will be. It is quite likely to be a custodial sentence."

Waliyat is expected to be sentenced next month.