A cat restored claw and order by mauling a burglar – providing DNA that brought him to justice.
The pet called Toothless drew blood when he scratched Connor Gorton.
The 18-year-old stole property worth £1,200 then called victim Beth Carr from her partner’s stolen phone saying “her house stank”, prosecutor Stephen Parker said.
He added that the couple found blood on the wall “forensic evidence that linked Gorton to the scene”.
Mr Parker said Beth, from Burnley, Lancs, noticed her cat was limping and wondered whether it might have clawed the burglar.
When police traced Gorton over other matters, he had scratches on his face. Gorton, from Colne, was also held over the thefts of a BMW and Range Rover after boasting about “his” new cars on social media.
He admitted two burglaries, aggravated vehicle taking, and two thefts.
The judge at Burnley crown court sentenced him to 36 months in a young offender institution.
