A BURGLAR who was part of a gang which carried out a raid on a self-store warehouse in Bury was caught when his blood was found at the scene.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Paul Winter was among thieves who targeted the Safestore facility in Crostons Road on the night of November 27 last year.

Tina Landale, prosecuting, said the alarm system was de-activated and CCTV cameras disabled at the building, with padlocks cut off the doors of nearly all the rented self-store units.

“It was clearly a planned operation,” she said.

Property, including pedal cycles and televisions, were stacked in a loading bay waiting to be taken away when the Safestore manager, who had been alerted by the alarm company’s concern at the length of time the system had been inactive, arrived on the scene.

The gang ran off empty-handed apart from a pair of bolt cutters.

But after police brought in a forensic team they found blood, belonging to Winter, in the premises and he was arrested.

Winter, aged 47, of Aspinall Street, Middleton, initially denied burglary, but then admitted the offence.

Recorder Roger Farley QC sentenced Winter to 12 months in jail, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work, will be subject to supervision for six months and will have to pay a £100 victim surcharge.