Dopey burglar gave police a head start when he left key piece of evidence at a scene

Detectives were given a head start in their hunt for a prolific burglar.

When David Southern broke into one house he left behind a huge clue - his DNA was on a head torch left at the scene after he searched the home in the dark.

He had been on a crime spree in a small neighbourhood in Cheshire, bringing misery to the residents who live there.

But the clue he left and the vigilance of neighbours who he targeted has put him in jail.

The 50-year-old, from Walton, was sentenced to five years after admitting a number of burglary and theft offences in the Hooton area of Ellesmere Port.

Southern, from Romley Street, Walton appeared at Chester Crown Court after admitting one count of dwelling burglary, one attempted dwelling burglary, four burglaries other than a dwelling, going equipped, theft of a bicycle and fraud.

Cheshire Constabulary said: "Southern was identified as a suspect after a DNA hit on a head torch that was left at the scene of one of the burglaries.

"In addition to this, neighbours in the area had reported suspicious activity and thefts to police and on their local social media pages.

"As word got around some checked their doorbell cameras and spotted Southern on their property, and in some cases taking items from their homes or sheds."

Southern was detained by residents on November 30, 2021, after he was caught trying doors in Roften Way. Officers arrested him and began to piece together his offending.

PC Mike Rogers from Ellesmere Port LPU’s Proactive team said: "This is a great example of neighbours looking out for each other and reporting suspicious activity to police.

"We were able to attend and arrest Southern after already building a picture of his offending. Southern repeatedly targeted the area over