An wannabe burglar has been caught after he stepped in dog poo, leaving police with evidence of his dirty footprint.
Brian Harold, 20, targeted residential areas in Carlisle in a spree of crimes under the cover of darkness, alongside an older accomplice.
His dog-poo covered footprint left on a window sill, led to police matching the shoes worn by Harold on the night he committed his crimes.
At Carlisle Magistrates’ Court he pleaded guilty to the attempted burglary of a family home in the Belle Vue area.
Harold also admitted three counts of theft and three charges of vehicle interference and was given an 18-month community order.
On the morning of August 27, a couple awoke to find their shed door was left open, the court heard.
The husband and wife also noticed a garden chair situated underneath their window sill.
Prosecutor Gerard Rogerson added: ‘She also noticed there was an amount of dog faeces around the exterior of the property.
‘On the window sill there was a footprint in that dog faeces which police subsequently examined and found it to be a match to footwear worn by Mr Harold.’
Harold and his accomplice had hit other locations on the same night.
They stole tools from a van and were involved in the theft of a wooden wishing well, which was found dumped in another residential road.
Mr Rogerson said: ‘This was, in essence, a spree of offending.
His solicitor Marion Weir said Harold, then 19, was ‘easily influenced’ by his peers.
She told the court he was remorseful, had addressed his substance misuse and wanted to stay out of trouble.
As his punishment, Harold must complete 150 hours of community service, rehabilitation work and a building choices course.