A 35-YEAR-old Coleford man who burgled a pub was caught because he took a drink from a wine glass while he was there, a jury heard.

As well as leaving his DNA on the glass, Jason Childs also left a clear print from his Nike shoe on a panel of a fruit machine which he kicked open to steal the cash inside.

At Gloucester Crown Court Childs, of Old Rectory road, Staunton, denied the burglary of the Bird in Hand pub at Broadwell on July 24, 2009.

But after a two-day trial he was convicted and Judge Jamie Tavor QC bailed him for pre-sentence reports until March 10.

As Childs left court, Judge Tabor told the jury: "You would be amazed how often burglars have a bite out of someone's fridge or drink a glass of milk or something and leave telltale signs behind them!"

At the start of the trial Derek Ryder, prosecuting, said that at the time of the raid the pub was closed, having ceased trading.

But there were a juke box, quiz machine and fruit machine with cash still in them as well as drink in the building.

The landlady Clare Cook – now Mrs Clare Hicks – had visited the pub to meet a workman who was due to collect the machines.

She found that the pub had been burgled and the machines had been forced open.

It was not until January 10 last year that enquiries led police to Childs, who denied all knowledge of the raid.

Police took a pair of Nike trainers from his home," Mr Ryder said. "These size nine shoes have been matched to footprints found on the interior surface of the front panel of the fruit machine.

"His DNA was found on a wine glass in the pub. It was on the rim of the glass, which was in the till area behind the bar."