A Scots housebreaker was caught red-handed after he left a trail of blood and footprints in the snow.
Serial offender Simon O'Neill, 42, cut himself smashing a window at a flat in Perth, and was nabbed by cops within minutes, a court heard.
He crawled through the bathroom window of a property in the city's Riggs Road and made off with a haul of random items including a guitar, chocolates and a TV remote control.
O'Neill was tracked down by officers within minutes when they followed a bloody trail and footprints coming from the property.
O'Neill, of Greyfriars House, told police not to bother calling in forensic officers because the blood was obviously his.
Sheriff William Wood told O'Neill: "I cannot see any alternative to a custodial sentence. You are a persistent thief and you have been given countless opportunities to break that cycle, but you have still carried on."
O'Neill was remanded in custody and sentence was deferred until July 28.
Fiscal depute Michael Sweeney said O'Neill was spotted going into the empty ground floor flat on January 13 by a neighbour.
"At about 10.20pm, a witness was in her home address when she heard a large smash consistent with the sound of glass smashing.
"She attended at the rear of her property and looked out to see the accused leaning into a smashed window.
"He appeared to be moving glass around to make space.
"She continued to watch him as he went through the window and into the property."
Police were called and the witness told them O'Neill had just walked around the corner onto Whitefriars Street.
"Officers gave chase, following a blood trail and footprints in the snow," said Mr Sweeney.
"The accused was traced and appeared to have an injury to his hand."
Police found a guitar, a bag containing chocolate and a quantity of tools at the back of the building.
Solicitor Billy Somerville said O'Neill had witnessed violence in his family, which may have left him with PTSD.
