DNA found on a sock led to a prolific burglar being caught. But thanks to his progress in tackling drug addiction he has been spared immediate custody.
Bristol Crown Court heard a man who walked his dog in November last year returned to find an intruder had entered his Westbury Road home. DNA on a sock found at the scene matched that of Brian Mearns and he was arrested.
Mearns, 39, of Brentry Farm, Charlton Road, Bristol, pleaded guilty to burglary of a dwelling. Judge Moira Macmillan handed him two years' prison suspended for two years.
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The judge told him: "There is a very real prospect of rehabilitation. This is very much your last opportunity."
Mearns was handed rehabilitation including a Thinking Skills programme. He was also told to observe a nine-month curfew in which he must stay indoors from 6pm to 7am.
Jack Barry, prosecuting, said Mearns stole an iPad from the home as well as other items. The items were not recovered and the loss to the householder was put at just over £600.
The court heard Mearns had a prolific list of previous convictions for burglary. He qualified as a "three strike burglar" and was at risk of receiving a three-year prison sentence.
Nicholas Lee, defending, argued that his client's latest offence was relatively low down the scale. He stressed that Mearns' last offence was ten years ago, in 2013, and since then he has made "very promising" steps towards rehabilitation.
Harvey Hughes, of Bristol-based Addiction Recovery Agency (Ara), told the court Mearns had started to shine in his rehabilitation process and had consistently tested drug-free. He said: "Everything is in place to move forwards. I've worked with a couple of 100 recovering drug adicts in the past decade and he's got potential."
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