A man who broke into a hairdressers and stole more than £1,000 worth of equipment was caught by police after he left his DNA at the scene.

Repeat offender, Dion Lucas, who was on prison licence at the time, broke into the Hair Studio in Albert Road, Colne, by launching a concrete slab through the window, Preston Crown Court heard.

The court was told how the salon owner had been alerted by a colleague to a break-in on November 1.

Tom Farr, prosecuting said after smashing his way into the premises, Lucas, 31, stole a tip jar with £50 in it, a pair of clippers and clipper guards, two curling irons, a hairdryer, a pair of straighteners and some mini straighteners, a pair of expensive scissors and a neck brush, as well as £30 in loose change from the till.

He said: “The total value of the items was £1,304.91 and the damage to the property was £150 to repair.

“A blood sample was taken from the scene and matched the defendant’s DNA.

“The incident impacted the owner as she said she could no longer be in the shop on her own.

“She said the shop was of sentimental value to her as she used to run it with her late mother, and as a result of the break-in her insurance premium had gone up.”

Lucas, of Lancaster Street, Colne, has 43 convictions for 74 offences, 38 of which are for theft, and pleaded guilty to burglary.

Mitigating for Lucas, Richard English said his client had had a difficult upbringing and life, and his long-term partner had died in October and it was her funeral on the day he was released from prison.

Recorder Charlotte Deane said: “The front door had a concreate slab thrown through it, and this offence was committed during a period of post sentence supervision.”

Lucas was sentenced to 32 weeks in prison.