A pair of burgling brothers were snared when one of them left their DNA on a half-drunk bottle of beer which was found on the doorstep of the Derbyshire house they broke into.

Dion Guest had taken the beer from inside the property when he and his brother Taylor Johnson let themselves in through an unlocked door at the property while the owner was asleep upstairs.

A court heard how the victim woke in the morning to find his leather wallet lying on the hallways floor, his cars keys and two laptops missing.

Dion Guest was put behind bars for 15 months
Dion Guest was put behind bars for 15 months

He then walked outside and found the half empty bottle on the doorstep, which was analysed and found to have Guest’s DNA on it after he was arrested on a separate matter.

That took place the same day, May 13, when the pair of criminals, who were already the subject to suspended sentences for previous offences, damaged a moped and, when arrested for that, Guest was found to be carrying a lock knife.

Jailing the brothers at Derby Crown Court, Recorder Martin Butterworth said: “The pair of you took advantage of a man who left his home unsecured by entering it and stealing property, car keys and laptops and one of you took a bottle of beer which you drank from, left at the scene and was found to contain your DNA.

“A little later, when you were arrested, you Mr Guest were found to be in possession of a lock knife so it follows that you entered someone’s property armed for that burglary.”

Jasmine Kumar, prosecuting, said the brothers had travelled from their homes in Nottingham to Cromford on the evening of May 13.

She said late that evening a man spotted them both with two females and he watched as Guest pulled at his moped which was chained to a lamppost.

The police were called and Guest, 19 and Johnson, 21, were arrested.

Taylor Johnson and Dion Guest have both been jailed
Taylor Johnson and Dion Guest have both been jailed

The following day the owner of the burgled house in St Mark’s Close, Cromford, woke to find he had been broken into after leaving his front door unlocked.

Miss Kumar said: “He walked down the stairs and saw his black, leather, wallet on the hallway floor and his car keys missing.

“A search found that two laptops had also been stolen.

“He went outside and saw a distinctive beer bottle on the doorstep.

“He knew it was one of his because he brews his own beer and it was one of his bottles.”

Guest, of Grierson Avenue, Bestwood, pleaded guilty to burglary, possessing a bladed article and being in breach of a suspended sentence.

He was sent to young offenders’ institute for 15 months.

Johnson, of Mountbatten Grove, Gedling, pleaded guilty to burglary and being in breach of two suspended sentences and was jailed for 21 months.

Christopher Brewin, for Guest, said: “This was a night of madness.

“Since this happened he has curtailed his drinking.”

Jeremy Janes, for Taylor, said: “It is clear he has been bedevilled by drink.

“He has tasted custody at both Glen Parva (young offenders’ institute) and HMP Nottingham and frankly, he didn’t enjoy his time there.”