A burglar has been jailed after his DNA was found on a cigarette butt at a home he broke into.

Matthew Cook was sentenced to 14 months in prison after he burgled a property in Tunbridge Wells.

He raided the home in Brook Road with the intention of selling the stolen items to fund his drug habit.

Cook, 37, formerly of Caley Road, Tunbridge Wells entered the house on Thursday February 20 after getting into the back garden through a side gate.

He emptied drawers onto the victim's bed and stole several items including cufflinks, a laptop and an iPad.

After the break-in officers discovered a cigarette butt in the lounge of the property, despite none of the occupants smoking.

Forensic tests carried out on the butt matched with Cook's DNA profile and he was subsequently arrested on Friday March 4.

When officers took him back to his home he tried to flee whilst still in handcuffs but was detained a short time later.

"The cigarette butt found at the house provided very strong evidence linking Cook to the crime scene" - Detective sergeant Garry Cook

During a police interview Cook admitted being responsible for the burglary and here confirmed that he had sold the iPad in order to buy heroin.

Detective sergeant Garry Cooksaid: "The cigarette butt found at the house provided very strong evidence linking Cook to the crime scene.

"This is a criminal who has offered little explanation for the burglary, other than what he claimed was a moment of madness in order to feed his drug habit."

Cook appeared at Maidstone Crown Court on Saturday June 26 and was sentenced to 10 months for the burglary and to a further four months for escaping lawful custody. He previously pleaded guilty to both charges.

Sergeant Cookadded: "Burglary is a devastating crime which can take victims many years to get over and I would hope that now he is in prison he will have the time to think about the impact his actions have on other people’s lives."