Blood trail linked man to burglary - Court is told

Justin Dunlop (18), of Lanntara, was traced to the break-in by a trail of blood he had left on a window through which he had entered.

Dunlop was given a five-month prison sentence after admitting a charge of entering a trespasser.

The court was told that on July 15, the occupier of a house at Ballymoney Road arrived home to find the defendant in her house.

He had entered the house through a window, cutting himself and leaving a trail of blood from which he was identified.

When he was confronted by the woman, Dunlop ran off, and he was observed by the injured party’s husband.

Dunlop’s barrister Neil Moore said: “It was nothing he was ever going to be able to successfully contest.

“He has expressed remorse and apologises to this lady for the experience.”

Mr Moore said that Dunlop, who has served the equivalent of his sentence while on remand, has been liaising with the probation service and will continue to do so on his release.

District Judge Des Perry described the episode as “a nasty experience for this woman”.

Noting that Dunlop has already served his sentence and was due for release that day, the judge told him: “Head straight for the probation people.”