A burglar who left drops of blood at the scene after injuring himself breaking into a house has been jailed.

Jason Stephenson, 43, of Harlesden, cut his leg while climbing through a broken window at a house in Fairfield Avenue, Edgware, on November 18, 2014.

He escaped before police arrived, but was arrested nearby shortly afterwards.

Stephenson was found to be wearing his jacket inside out with a woolly hat and gloves hidden in his sleeve, and had mud and blood on his jeans.

He was arrested on suspicion of burglary, and a sniffer dog found stolen items hidden in the garden.

Tests later matched blood drops by the window with Stephenson’s.

He was found guilty at Wood Green Crown Court on May 12 and jailed for four and a half years.

Detective Constable Adam Sharp of Barnet CID said: "This is a great result with a burglar being jailed for several years. The sentence handed down will ensure our communities are protected from further offending by Stephenson. We will continue to target those responsible for burglary across the borough.”