Funeral home burglar caught after leaving blood behind leaves fingerprint at latest crime scene

A funeral home burglar who was snared after his blood was found inside left finger prints at the scene of his latest crime.

Jason Ross was previously given a community order after he broke into J Hindmarsh & Sons Funeral Directors, in Byker, by throwing a rock through its window before making off with just £4 in coins. Three years later, however, the bungling crook proved he hadn't enhanced his criminal expertise after he left fingerprints on a car he'd unsuccessfully tried to get into.

A court heard that the 52-year-old was captured on doorbell footage trying the handles of cars on a street in Newcastle. Forensic analysis then found his fingerprints on the handle of a Hyundai and he was arrested.

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Ross, of Spires Lanes, in Byker, has now been fined £100 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £40 victim surcharge after he pleaded guilty to interfering with a motor vehicle. Sentencing him at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, District Judge Paul Currer said: "It seems to me that you were taking your chance to see if there was anything you could steal and you were caught thanks to fingerprints on the Hyundai vehicle."

The court heard that doorbell footage had captured someone trying car door handles on a street in Newcastle on June 28 this year. Rehana Haque, prosecuting, added: "There's fingerprints left an a Hyundai and forensic evidence says the defendant tried the door handle of that vehicle. He's got no recollection of events."

Magistrates head that Ross, who had 57 offences on his record, including 37 for theft, had significant mental health difficulties. His solicitor, Adrian Ions, said: "He was having a very difficult time at the time of this incident back in June and has no recollection at all of it."

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