A BURGLAR who left blood at the scenes of three different business burglaries in the space of one night has been jailed for two years.

Andrew Drinkeld, of Pound Lane, Willesden, caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to the stores and cafes during his one-man crime wave on the night of Friday, September 10.

The 39-year-old started the night by smashing the glass doors of the Costcutter store in Varley Parade, Colindale, causing £1,800 of damage and swiping booze and cigarettes.

He then went on to break into two other premises in Brent, taking a total of £220 from both but causing yet more damage to them.

Another charge of residential burglary, where a car, Ipod and TV were taken was left to lie on file.

Officers tracked him down from blood found at the scene, as well as CCTV which showed him parked outside Costcutter in a Toyota Corolla taken from the house burglary.

Later the same night he was chased by police in the car, which he crashed, but managed to escape leaving blood smeared on the door and inside the interior.

Officers found the same blood in Costcutter, and the cafe and fingerprints on cardboard used to cover smashed glass at the other store.

Drinkeld, who has 15 previous convictions for burglary stretching back six years, was tracked down a week later and caught after again trying to run from officers.

Detective Sergeant Julie Henderson of Barnet CID said: "The conviction of Drinkeld was a team effort. The prompt arrival and exhaustive search by the response team officers helped bring about Drinkeld's  initial arrest.

"Subsequently the CID carried out extensive enquires and were assisted by our forensic team, who had gathered evidence from Drinkeld's earlier burglaries.

"The fact that he has pleaded guilty to three burglaries shows that Drinkeld is a persistent menace to other people's property and his custodial sentence is well merited.”

Yesterday he was jailed for two years after admitting the offences at Wood Green Crown Court.