A burglar with a cold was caught after he

broke into a house in Portsmouth-

because he dropped his handkerchief.

Telegraph- UK--Timothy Mcleod, 46, got away with a television set and a jacket, but left the hanky at the scene when he got it out to blow his nose.

The serial crook was caught by police after they examined the handkerchief and found traces of his DNA.

Mcleod, who had a string of previous convictions for burglary, has now been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

PC Catherine Stacey, who investigated the case, said: "He was caught through DNA identification after he left a handkerchief in the kitchen.

"He had a hanky with him and he was stupid enough to leave it behind."

Mcleod was on licence from a four-year prison sentence when the burglary took place in Portsmouth, Hants, on October 14 last year.

Just eight days earlier he had broken into another home in the city and stolen jewellery.

Judge Roger Hetherington told Portsmouth Crown Court he had no choice but to send Mcleod to jail.

He said: "My primary duty must be to reflect that you have committed these further offences.

"I would be failing in my duty if I allowed the public to be put at risk by giving you a community order."

Pc Stacey, from Hampshire Constabulary, was pleased with the sentence.

She said: "Police are very pleased with the prison sentence imposed against this career criminal for the serious offence of dwelling burglary.

"The sentence sends out the message to people who commit this type of crime that they will be dealt with robustly."

Detective Inspector Nigel Oliver added: "It's a pretty robust sentence and I think it's the appropriate sentence for his offences."

Mcleod, from Portsmouth, admitted two counts of burglary and a further offence of handling stolen goods.