Duo Jailed After Failing To Cover Tracks Following Birmingham Burglaries

14 February 2015, 08:05 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Two men have been jailed after DNA evidence led police to find they'd carried out a spate of burglaries in Birmingham.

Paul Gallagher (pictured left), 39 of Hayes Croft, Birmingham, was jailed for three-and-a-half years and Dennis Steenson (pictured right), 38, of no fixed address, for 33 months after they were found guilty at Stafford Crown Court

They left things like balaclavas and gloves after breaking into addresses in West Heath and Halesowen last year.

The pair were also convicted of handling stolen goods after a Peugeot and a Ford Focus were stolen in burglaries on Trostrey Road, Kings Norton and Wynds Point, Northfield.

Throughout the trial the pair claimed they were innocent, but DNA and CCTV evidence proved otherwise.

Detective Constable Nick Betts, from West Midlands Police's Priorities Team, said: “Gallagher is a prolific burglar who has been arrested or charged with 115 offences since 1989. He was identified in June as involved in these burglaries, he progressed to committing more offences with Steenson and the pair proved very elusive.

“The police officers involved in this investigation worked tirelessly to trace and house this pair. This has involved the use of a large amount of resources and appeals to the public for their help."