DNA catches Broomfield burglar

From the archive, first published Wednesday 11th Apr 2007.

A MAN in a "drunken haze" stole more than £19,000 worth of property after he broke into offices at Broomfield Hospital.

A court heard last Wednesday that doors and windows of Galbraith House, in the hospital grounds, had been forced after NHS staff had locked the building up for the weekend.

Nine computers, three printers, a fax machine and £25 in cash had been stolen, the staff discovered on their return. The value of items taken totalled £19,125 - and the electronics were never recovered, Chelmsford Crown Court was told.

Police found a cigarette

end after the break-in, which took place between February 8 and February 10, 1997. DNA left on the cigarette was tested and later traced to David Redgrave, in the dock last week.

Redgrave was arrested and charged, but failed to appear in court and disappeared until he was arrested again, earlier this year.

The 52-year-old, of Aldersbrook Road in Manor Park, east London, admitted a burglary charge when he appeared in court and received an 18-month jail, sentence suspended for two years.

John Caudle, mitigating, said Redgrave had no recollection of the burglary, as he had been "in a drunken haze" when it took place.

Since the offence, Redgrave had not been in trouble with the law, Mr Caudle added.