A BURGLAR was foiled after he left a bloody handprint in a woman's home, a court heard.

David William Hunt, who is currently serving a five-year term in Risley Prison, said he could not remember stealing a TV and two bikes from the house in Barrow having taken drugs.

Preston Crown Court heard the 45-year-old took £1,100 worth of items from the house in December 2021.

The court was told when the homeowner returned to her property around 8pm on December 3 she noticed a 50-inch Samsung television, a blue Giant bicycle and a silver bicycle were missing.

She also noticed a bloody handprint on the corner of her sofa and saw a fence panel at the back of the house had been damaged.

The prosecutor described how police visited the house and found the television behind the fence and the two bicycles in a nearby street.

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The blood was tested and found to be Hunt's and he was arrested, the court heard.

Hunt told officers he could not remember what happened on the night because he had been taking drugs. He said he woke up and found the bikes in the garage of a house he was staying in and disposed of them.

In a victim impact statement read in court, the homeowner described the mental effect of the burglary.

She said: "I don't sleep very well at night. I'm constantly anxious with every small noise that I hear.

"Every small noise I'm doubting what's making the noise. I don't like going out in the evening when it's dark, this includes the front of the house.

"I'm worried that I'm being watched when I'm outside in the dark around my house.

"I do not feel safe in this property anymore but once I am away from my home I feel less anxious.

"I've put a lot of work into this property as a house for myself and my daughter, however, this does not feel like a home at all as I constantly do not feel safe here."

Hunt appeared in court via a video link from Risley Prison, where he is serving a five-year sentence for conspiracy to supply drugs.

Representing himself, he told the court he regretted the offence.

"I don't even understand why I did it. I found the bikes in the garage in the morning and I was like 'what on Earth are they doing here?', he said.

"I'm totally ashamed about what I've done, I do nothing but apologise."

Hunt was sentenced to another year in prison.