FORENSICS played a vital role in trapping a violent burglar and car thief, magistrates have heard.

Sean Heeney was caught thanks to blood and fingerprint evidence found at the scenes of his crimes.

Prosecutor Marie Stace said the 25-year-old, who lives a transient lifestyle between his girlfriend's home in Boston and friends' accommodation in Peterborough, broke into a house in Eastwood Road, Boston, on June 30.

He used a large stone to smash a pane in a patio window to gain access to the property while the householders were out.

When the residents returned they found several rooms had been searched and a number of items including jewellery, electrical equipment and passports had been stolen.

The total value of the goods taken was about £1,500 and Heeney was caught after his blood was discovered on curtains and a mattress in a bedroom.

Next to fall victim to Heeney's crime spree was a car parked in Lincoln which he stole on July 16 and was found by police in Clifton Road, Boston, three days later.

This time it was fingerprints left inside the vehicle that led police to Heeney.

Finally, on July 18 Heeney carried out a violent attack on a man in Eastwood Road, Boston.

Ms Stace told Boston Magistrates Court that the two men had been drinking together much of the day before Heeney decided the victim had been making advances towards his girlfriend.

Heeney punched the man twice knocking him to the ground where he proceeded to stamp on him six times before running off into a house.

When he was arrested Heeney said he had sold the goods stolen in the burglary to people he knew in Peterborough in return for money and drugs.

He claimed he took the car in Lincoln as a means to get back to Boston and added he attacked the man as he had "tried it on" with his girlfriend so he decided to "give him a smack."

Heeney, who had previous convictions, admitted charges of burglary, taking a vehicle without consent and assault.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction on the case and Heeney will be sentenced by a judge at Lincoln Crown Court on a date to be set.