BURGLAR Mark Simpson was caught after police followed a trail of sawdust to a Kidderminster garden.

The 22-year-old had carried out a number of raids on neighbouring properties to feed a drugs habit.

But during a break-in at a private garage adjoining a house he stole part of a workbench, Worcester Crown Court was told.

William Rickarby, prosecuting, said he tipped it up to remove it but sawdust poured out as he carried it off.

Police, alerted by a householder, followed the sawdust in Sutton Road and found Simpson with stolen goods hiding in a garden.

Simpson, of Hawfinch Rise, Kidderminster, was jailed for three-and-a-half years yesterday.

Judge Andrew Geddes also ordered him to serve an extra 158 days of an unexpired prison licence for burglary.

He said committing crime to feed drug addiction was a familiar story to the courts - but no defence. Burglary caused intense distress.

Burglaries

Simpson, who admitted two burglaries, theft and criminal damage, told police he left his girlfriend's company on May 16 last year around 1am and "wandered around" looking for property to steal.

Bailed by magistrates, he broke into another house in Cleobury Mortimer at night by removing a double-glazed window, said Mr Rickarby.

But a sharp-eyed neighbour alerted police who saw him creeping up an alley and collared him after a short chase.

Stolen property which included credit cards and cash were recovered from a bag in his possession.

He commented on his arrest: "I always get caught. I'll go down for this."

Defence counsel Christopher O'Gorman said Simpson began on soft drugs at the age of 11 and by 17 was hooked on heroin.

He came off drugs during his last period of custody but foolishly went back on them after he was tempted to steal property again by a friend.