Tuesday, January 27, 2026
A burglar was traced after leaving blood at the scene of a break-in.
Ian Rowling (pictured) burgled a house in Leyland Road, Penwortham, in October 2024, stealing a watch worth £5,000, a laptop and a pedal cycle.
The householders were out at the time but returned home to find the back door has been smashed to gain entry and all the lights on in the house.
Lancashire Police's South Residential Burglary team launched an investigation and blood was found on a mobile phone box in a bedroom, with footwear marks located on the dining room floor.
The blood sample was forensically examined and resulted in a DNA match to Rowling’s profile.
He was arrested in Hyde, Greater Manchester, on 24th July last year, charged and remanded to prison.
Rowling, 40, of Grange Close, Hyde, pleaded guilty to burglary of a dwelling.
At Preston Crown Court yesterday (26th January), he was jailed by a judge for three years and eight months.
Operation Defender is a force-wide campaign that aims to combat residential burglary with support from Lancashire's Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw.