A BURGLAR who stole property worth more than £30,000 in raids across South West Surrey was arrested after scenes of crime officers found a trace of blood that matched his DNA, a court was told.
He was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to burglary and asking for seven similar offences to be taken into consideration at Guildford Crown Court last Thursday.
A judge who heard that Sutherland was already serving four years for a previous burglary ordered that the sentences should run concurrently. Sutherland had previous convictions for burglary dating back to 1986 and had also been convicted of possessing drugs and handling stolen goods.
Recorder Mr Barry Kogan told him: "You have an awful record stretching back 17 years. You are a very experienced burglar.
"The fact that you had a drug problem may explain some of your behaviour but it doesn't excuse it.
"The court's patience is finally running out so far as you are concerned. You must now receive a substantial sentence.
"Hopefully you will realise the error of your ways and get drugs completely out of your system once and for all."
Keith Hadrill, prosecuting, told how a couple were away from their detached chalet bungalow in Churt on holiday in August 2000 when they fell victim to Sutherland.
He said: "They asked neighbours to keep an eye on their property for them and that they did.
"On August 14 a neighbour returned home and told his wife he heard an alarm sounding.
"He went to investigate and went to the address from which the sound was emanating.
"He noticed a car in the drive which had not been there previously.
"He went to the back of the house and while there heard a car starting up and being driven away quickly.
"It turned out it was the car at the front of the house being driven off by the defendant who had been burgling the house when the neighbour arrived at the scene."
Mr Hadrill said Sutherland had smashed a downstairs window to gain entry before stealing jewellery worth £1,500.
"In the course of smashing the window he cut himself. He then went around the house turning out a number of drawers.
"He stole a significant amount of jewellery which was never recovered.
"When scenes of crime officers took swabs from the blood found at the house DNA proved it belonged to the defendant."
Sutherland was arrested in July last year and told police he was heavily addicted to drugs at the time and owed a lot of money in drugs debts.
But he said he could not remember anything about the raid.
The court heard that he also stole goods worth £16,100 from a school in Farnham, £2,780 from a house in Shackleford, £3,640 from a house in Tilford, £2,158 from Andrews of Hindhead, £3,000 from another house in Shackleford and £4,000 from a house on the Hogs Back.
He also stole an unknown amount of property from the Penny Hill Park Hotel in Bagshot.
Brian Stork, defending, said: "He obviously realises he will receive a custodial sentence today. He was heavily addicted to drug-taking at the time."