GAZETTE & HERALD: A crack cocaine addict who took part in a raid on the golf academy at Yatton Keynell has been jailed for a year.

John Clouter was part of a gang who broke into the driving range and made off with thousands of pounds worth of gear.

But the 19-year-old was tracked down after forensic officers found spots of his blood at the scene.

Lyn Matthews, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that the alarm was activated at the golf centre shortly after 11pm on Tuesday, September 30 last year.

She said "When police arrived they found that once inside the rear door the offenders had used an angle grinder or similar tool to cut a hole in the internal metal security shutters to gain entrance to the pro's shop within the premises."

Once inside she told the court that the men had stolen golf equipment and clothing worth £4,321.30p.

She said that after the spots of blood were found they were sent off for analysis and the DNA matched Clouter.

Miss Matthews said Clouter was arrested in June this year and when he was questioned by detectives refused to comment.

A fresh sample of DNA was taken, which again showed a match, and he was released on bail but he failed to return to the police station the following month. He was arrested last month when he was caught after breaking into a Ford Focus which was in a hotel car park in Bristol.

Clouter, of Wilton Road, Knowle, Bristol, pleaded guilty to burglary, failing to surrender and theft.

Anjali Gohil, defending, said that at the time of the break-in her client was a crack cocaine addict and committed the offence to fund his habit.

She said that all of the money he made from the burglary was spent on drugs but he had stopped taking crack.

She said that he had experienced a difficult upbringing and had been in care for much of his youth.

She said that he had failed to answer his bail for the break in because he lost his papers and broke into the car with friends after being out drinking.

Jailing him for a year Judge Tom Longbotham said "You are very nearly 20 and you have been before the courts on 12 previous occasions for 35 offences."