A 'persistent and prolific' burglar was snared after leaving traces of his own blood at two crime scenes.
Frederick Gray wreaked havoc as he targeted properties across Greater Manchester over a four-month period last year.
At the time, the 22-year-old was on licence having been released half way through a 42-month sentence for burglary.
He was caught after being captured on CCTV and leaving blood and DNA at the scene of a number of the burglaries.
At Manchester Crown Court today (October 28), a judge jailed Gray for five years.
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Prosecutor David James told the court that on July 20 of last year, Gray broke into a house in Broadoak Road, Ashton-under-Lyne.
The occupant - a childminder - was out at the time, but returned home at 6pm to find her conservatory door had been smashed.
When she checked her CCTV, footage showed Gray smashing the conservatory window before entering the house. He could also be seen holding a screwdriver, which Mr James described as his 'tool of choice'.
After searching the house for 20-25 minutes, Gray left with a Pandora bracelet and charms, two gold chains and £2,000 in cash.
The following day, Gray attempted to break into a property in Gorsey Lane, Ashton-under-Lyne, while the occupant was home.
CCTV footage showed him ripping an alarm from outside the property before trying to gain access via a balcony. He was unable to do and fled via a nearby golf course, the court was told.
Several weeks later, on September 6, Gray stole an Audi A3 from the car park of a Travelodge in Sale.
After hiding behind a bar, he jumped over the reception counter and swiped two handbags belonging to members of staff.
One of the bags contained keys, which Gray then used to take the Audi.
The vehicle was later recovered after it was found crashed into a lamp post in Levenshulme.
Gray was linked to the theft after his fingerprints were found on the handbags, which he had dumped outside the hotel.
Days later, on September 10, Gray broke into a house in Baydon Avenue, Salford. The couple who lived there were away on holiday at the time.
The court heard Gray ransack the house and took a number of items of 'substantial sentimental value', including jewellery and money the couple had been saving for their grandchildren's Christmas presents.
Blood left on a window at the property was later found to match Gray's DNA.
That same day, the defendant also left blood on a set of drawers at a home in St Boniface Road, Salford, after stealing a laptop and sentimental jewellery.
On November 15, security staff at Manchester Fort came across Gray using a screwdriver to try and break into cars at the retail park.
After being challenged, he attempted to flee on a bike belonging to a Sports Direct employee.
Gray returned to the retail park two days later and was caught on CCTV stealing items worth a total of £185 from B&Q. He returned the next day and was detained by security personnel.
Gray, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to a string of burglary offences, as well as two counts of attempted burglary, theft of a motor vehicle and two other counts of theft.
The court heard he had 37 previous convictions for 91 offences - the majority of which involved theft and burglary.
In 2018, he was sentenced to 42 months in a young offender's institution after being convicted of five burglary offences.
Mitigating, Tom Worsfold, said Gray then returned home to a 'challenging family life'.
He added: "His mother, who sits in court today, split up with the defendant's father while he was in custody.
"It was traumatic for him, but that does not excuse what he did."
He added: "It's a sad situation he finds himself in, harming others. He has clearly suffered a traumatic childhood."
Sentencing Gray, Judge Patrick Field QC described him as 'a persistent and prolific burglar and thief'.
The judge added: "For you, entering people's homes and stealing their property seems to be a way of life and ending up in prison seems to be an occupational hazard.
"You appear to have no respect for other people's property and you appear to lack any concern for the profound hurt and distress that your criminal behaviour has caused."
