A burglar who targeted schools and old folks' homes was caught because he kept cutting himself.

Scaffolder John Conachy was arrested after DNA samples taken at the scenes of some of the break-ins matched those held on police records.

His DNA was also found on a milk bottle he drank from during a burglary at one of the schools.

Alex Cranbrook, prosecuting, said Conachy, 36, had also broken into a children's nursery.

He said: "Conachy was obviously not a very good burglar because he cut himself smashing windows and police were able to match his DNA."

Conachy, of Ormerod Avenue, Hastings, had earlier pleaded guilty to eight burglaries between November and January, one theft and failing to answer to police bail.

He was jailed for a total of two and half years when he appeared at Hove Crown Court yesterday.

Mark Glendening, defending, said Conarhy's relationship with his common-law wife had broken down and he became addicted to crack cocaine and heroin.

The burglaries were committed to pay for drugs but since he had been on remand in custody he had managed to come off them.

Sentencing, Judge David Rennie said: "These offences are serious enough to justify a custodial sentence."