Police found Shane Sweeney’s DNA on a bone left in the property he’d just burgled, event though he claimed it couldn’t have been his as he ‘didn’t like chicken’
A thief who broke into a student’s house and stole items including car keys and a laptop was caught after his DNA was discovered on a chicken bone left at the scene. He disputed being responsible following his arrest, claiming he “didn’t like chicken”.
Shane Sweeney, 28, carried out a burglary in Cardiff between January 24 and 25 while his victim was out working in the early hours of the morning. Upon her return, she discovered a number of items had been taken including a 65-inch television, two laptops, jewellery, a gold bar, bank cards and car keys.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday heard the victim’s Vauxhall Corsa was taken, but this was not connected to the defendant. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter.
The vehicle was later abandoned and discovered in Trowbridge.
The back door of the property, in Cathays, had been left open, the window was left ajar and a safety cable had been snapped.
A chicken bone was found on the kitchen table and when analysed, it was found to contain a DNA profile matched with Sweeney.
He was arrested and told police he was not responsible for the burglary, claiming he “didn’t like chicken”.
The victim said the burglary had affected her “physically, psychologically and financially” and she had been forced to pause her studies due to the stolen laptops containing her diploma assessment.
She added: “I can’t believe someone could do this to me.”
Prosecutor Hannah Head said the defendant was also to be dealt with for seven cases of shoplifting, committed between November last year and March.
The thefts took place at stores including Spar, in Abergale Road, Trowbridge, Sainsbury’s, in Newport Road, One Stop Shop, in Llanrumney, and the Co-Op in Pontcanna.
Among the items taken by Sweeney were cans of Coke, washing pods, alcohol, cleaning products, chocolate, meat, and Lindt easter eggs.
The total value of these items was £686.
Sweeney, of no fixed abode, later pleaded guilty to burglary and seven counts of theft from shops.
The court heard he had previous convictions, including 23 offences of theft and offences of non-dwelling burglary and shoplifting.
In mitigation, Hannah Friedman said her client was remorseful for his offending and wished to apologise to the victim of the burglary, having stated he was “not a burglar but a shoplifter”.
The defence barrister said the defendant did not carry out the offences alone, and was “misled” by a group of friends.
He moved to Wales from Ireland at the age of 18 and suffered a fractured vertebrae in a bike accident which left him addicted to opiates as pain relief.
This caused the defendant’s life to “spiral” but he wished to rebuild his life and establish a relationship with his three children.
Recorder Andrew Hammond sentenced Sweeney to a total of 24 months imprisonment.
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