A burglar has been jailed after being undone by a milk carton.

Hythe man Jake Finn was tracked down after leaving DNA evidence at the scene of a break-in.

The 22-year-old was charged with three offences after officers found a milk carton at the scene of the burglary across the border in East Sussex.

East Sussex police were called to the Cafe Royale in Castle Street, Hastings, following the break-in in the early hours of September 7.

A door had been forced open, and the till and tip box containing around £300 was taken from inside.

Officers viewed the cafe’s CCTV and saw a man entering the site with a carton of milk, which he put down while trying to remove the till, and then left behind at the scene.

The bottle was forensically examined and proved a DNA match for Finn, of Dymchurch Road in Hythe.

He was duly arrested and charged with burglary other than dwelling with intent to steal.

He was also charged with two counts of theft in relation to alcohol being stolen from the Jempson’s supermarket in Peasmarsh on September 10.

Appearing before Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Saturday (October 8), he was convicted of all three offences.

He was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison for the burglary, and one week for each shoplifting offence to run concurrently. He was also ordered to pay £300 in compensation.

Inspector Aidan Cornwall, of the Hastings Neighbourhood Policing team, said: “We understand the emotional and financial impact burglary has on individuals and businesses, and we are committed to finding those responsible for committing such crimes.

"The DNA proved vital in securing a conviction at court"

“This is the second Hastings burglary conviction in as many weeks thanks to the fantastic work of our Crime Scene Investigators, who will always follow-up on opportunities for forensic evidence. In this case, the DNA our investigators found proved vital in identifying a suspect and securing a conviction at court.

“We continue to thoroughly investigate reports of residential and commercial burglary in our community and urge people to get in touch if they see or hear of any suspicious behaviour.”

Reports can be made to police online or by calling 101. Always dial 999 in an emergency.