A SWEET toothed burglar was trapped by DNA from a lolly stick.

Blackburn magistrates heard Michael Dale helped himself to the ice lolly from the freezer after breaking into a Haslingden restaurant.

He left behind the wrapper and the lolly stick after stealing property worth £1,870 and crime scene investigators were able to obtain a DNA hit.

Dale, 46, of Charles Lane, Haslingden, pleaded guilty to burglary at New Capana takeaway on December 13, burglary at Butties 2 Buffets on December 15 and theft of property worth £1,330 and burglary at Kaya Beauty Salon and theft of property worth £300 on December 18.

He was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay as total of £250 compensation.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said all the offences had been committed in the run up to Christmas.

Dale had been identified as the burglar by DNA from the lolly stick, a footprint left at the butty shop and CCTV footage at the hair salon which showed his distinctive Mohican hair style.

Gareth Price, defending, said his client had been out of trouble for 15 years during which time he had been in a stable relationship and running his own tattoo parlour.

"The relationship ended, his business failed and he ended up homeless and sleeping rough," said Mr Price.

"Over a period of 18 months he slipped into a deep depression and that is when these offences were committed."

Mr Price said there was a lack of professionalism in the offences as evidenced by the fact his client had stopped and had an ice lolly during one of them.