An inept burglar, who broke into a secluded Wirral farm, was tracked down by the trail of blood he left, a court heard today.

The intruder Alan Doyle, who has committed 61 previous offences, appeared via video link from prison, and sat nonchalantly chewing his nails as Judge Norman Wright jailed him for 20 months.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the householder had not realised his home had been raided by Doyle until he went to bed after a day out and realised his iPad was missing from his bedroom window sill.

When he went to investigate he found that the rear patio doors had been smashed and the intruder had also stolen a candle.

The court heard that 28-year-old Doyle had cut himself breaking into the premises, Storeton Hall Farm off Lever Causeway, Bebington, on August 27 this year and left a trail of blood.

Iain Criddle, prosecuting, said that Doyle was identified by his DNA and was arrested shortly afterwards. When interviewed he made no comment.

Doyle, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to the burglary in which he stole property worth £400 and caused £120 worth of damage getting in.

John Ballam, defending, said that Doyle did not know the premises and had not targeted them but spotted they were unoccupied and broke in.

“He took the items and converted them to cash as he did not have any money.”

Judge Wright said that Doyle’s previous convictions included burglaries of dwelling and non-dwelling houses.