TWO-time burglar Mark Hadaway was caught red-handed in a police stop and search when the screws in his pocket matched those taken from the hinges of a shed he raided.
He was also found by a police dog when he fled from the scene of a similar burglary, Spalding magistrates heard.
Hadaway (40), of Pinchbeck Road, Spalding, pleaded guilty to burglary and theft of property worth £86 from a shed at Abbey Buildings, Spalding, when he appeared in court on Thursday.
He denied a second shed break-in – where he was tracked by a police dog – but was convicted after trial the previous week.
Hadaway was sentenced for both offences on Thursday and given a year-long community order with 100 hours’ unpaid work. He must pay a total of £96 compensation and £74 costs.
Solicitor Mike Alexander, mitigating, said Hadaway had been on bail and electronically monitored on a 12-hour curfew since December 15.
Mr Alexander said: “He has stayed out of trouble for at least two years and now we have two burglaries that you have to deal with.”
Rebecca Ritson, prosecuting, said police searched Hadaway on November 24 and found items including screws – which were forensically tested and matched ones from a burglary scene.
She outlined how a police dog picked up a scent from the second burglary at Riverside Park, Spalding, and tracked Hadaway who was some distance away.