A thief who broke into a dead neighbour’s home was caught after his DNA was found on a broken window, Exeter Crown Court has been told.
Andrew Buckley claimed he was helping a relative of the dead man recover property after he was arrested for climbing into the empty bungalow in Liverton.
He climbed on a wheelie bin to get in through a window and removed £3,300 of antiques, some of which were recovered by police at a local shop.
Buckley also stole alcohol from the home of the recently-deceased man, which he drank himself after taking back to his own house in the village.
The dead man’s partner, who did not live at the bungalow, was left traumatised after she went to check it and found stolen property strewn across the garden.
At Exeter Crown Court, Buckley, aged 39, of Beaumont Close, Liverton, admitted burglary and was jailed for eight months, suspended for two years, by Judge Francis Gilbert, QC.
He told him: "You burgled a bungalow of a man who had died. I hope you heard the statement of his partner about the appalling effects on her.
"You smashed a rear window and stood on a wheelie bin to get in. You stole ornaments, statues and alcohol. You are very lucky not to be going into custody today."
Emmi Wilson, prosecuting, said the owner of the property in Summerland Copse, Liverton, died in January and the bungalow was burgled in early February.
Items worth £3,300 were taken but a statue and a porcelain ornament were recovered from a local antique shop where they were for sale for a total of around £200.
She read a statement from the dead man’s partner which said she is now afraid to return to the house and feels devastated and vulnerable.
Joss Ticehurst, mitigating, said Buckley agreed to go into the house with the deceased man’s grandson to recover property, but accepted he had also stolen alcohol for himself because he had a drink problem.
He said he is keen to work with the probation service to ensure he stays out of trouble if he remains in the community.