Shocked woman found burglar in her home drinking beer who told her ‘I’ve been waiting’

Police tracked down an audacious burglar after a sample of his DNA was found on a can of lager in the house.

Antoni Adams told the occupant he had been in the house “all day”, and had helped himself to a can of Foster’s lager in the middle of his crime, ChronicleLive reports.

Upon returning to her home after being away for a day, the resident saw Adams peering out of the window. When she asked what he was doing there, he replied: “It’s not your house, I’ve been here all day.”

Newcastle Crown Court heard evidence that Mr Adams had been present in the house for a long time, making himself at home and helping himself to coffee, a can of Foster’s, and food in the flat.

But his impromptu beer eventually cost him dearly after police swabbed the can he had been drinking from and found samples of his DNA.

Using this they were able to find and arrest Adams.

He ultimately admitted to the burglary and was sentenced to 876 days in prison.

The court heard how the woman had left her home in Sunderland on the evening of July 13, 2020, and returned around 24 hours later.

Joe Hedworth, prosecuting, said: “When she arrived she noticed an open window and she saw a man looking out of her window directly at her.

“She asked what on earth he was doing and he said ‘It’s not your house, I’ve been here all day’.

“He asked her not to phone the police but she did.”

The resident also noticed that the lock on the door had been forced in order to enter the building.

There was also damage to a coffee table, a deep fat fryer had been moved, and handbags and purses had been gathered together on the sofa.

There were also “signs food had been eaten all over the flat.”

On the bench in the kitchen, there was the can of lager which ultimately led to Adams’ arrest.

Referring to a victim impact statement, Mr Hedworth said: “She said she was terrified and couldn’t stay there in case he returned, at the end of last year at least.

“She checked her handbags and purses and noticed her debit card was missing.”

Adams, 33, has 93 previous convictions, including two for burglary.

Mr Recorder Fanning said the only mitigation in his case was his guilty plea.