Burglar who raided elderly couple's home is jailed - after leaving fingerprints on pack of Jaffa Cakes

A sweet-toothed burglar has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years after he broke into an elderly couple's home - and left his fingerprints on a pack of Jaffa Cakes.

Reece O'Callaghan, 19, couldn't resist the tasty snack when he raided the property on June 12 last year before fleeing with three TVs and jewellery. 

The greedy thief helped himself to the biscuits and even a pasta meal before he was spotted leaving the house in Birmingham by a neighbour.

He was arrested by police a short time later later but he denied any involvement in the break-in.

But a court heard forensic experts found his middle finger imprint on a Jaffa Cake box from the house - meaning the evidence 'literally pointed at him'.

O'Callaghan, from West Heath, Birmingham, pleaded guilty to two charges of burglary and aggravated burglary at a previous hearing.

He was caged for seven-and-a-half years at Birmingham Crown Court on May 2.

Sentencing him, Judge William Davis QC said the elderly couple had been left "devastated" by O'Callaghan's actions.

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Prosecutor Jason Pegg told the court the couple, aged 78 and 82, had been away on holiday when the yob struck and returned to find their house was a mess.

Mr Pegg said the wife had been unable to stop crying and they were mourning the loss of sentimental items which couldn't be replaced as they couldn't afford home insurance.

The court also heard in a separate incident in December last year O'Callaghan and a 17-year-old boy invaded the home of a man with significant health problems.

The duo struck on two separate occasions - using a knife and then a screwdriver to steal the vulnerable victim's property.

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Judge Davis QC said: "Armed with a knife you used violence against him and you took his property."

The 17-year-old, who had admitted aggravated burglary and burglary, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in detention.