A useless burglar managed to get himself swiftly caught after fleeing the scene of a crime but leaving his phone with selfies and pictures of his passport on it.
He also admitted another burglary, during which he left behind a can of beer in the kitchen sink, which obviously had his DNA all over it.
As criminals go, this man is no mastermind.
Wayne Elliott, from Wallsend, ran from the house he was trying to steal from when confronted by a vulnerable resident.
Newcastle Crown Court was told that the 43-year-old had escaped through a window of the downstairs flat, but his victim quickly realised that he'd stolen nothing and left some fairly incriminating evidence behind him.
Prosecutor Amy Levitt said: "There was a mobile phone found under the window in the spare bedroom which did not belong to the complainant.
"There was also a rucksack under the window as well.
"Upon examination, the phone contained pictures of the defendant and a picture of his own passport, plus messages addressed to Wayne."
His victim, who uses a walking aid due to mobility issues, was 'shocked and dazed' when she discovered that someone had invaded her home.
Ms Levitt added: "She now understands he could have attacked her or worse and thinks about this often.
"She can't move fast because of mobility issues and has a walking aid."
After pleading guilty to burglary with intent to steal in relation to the first incident, Elliott also admitted to the burglary at an unoccupied flat, also in Wallsend, a few days earlier.
That's the one where he left behind the can of lager.
He 'ransacked' the entire place, stole a microwave and a telly, then - it would appear - stopped for a refreshing can of Budweiser, which he left in the sink.
That wasn't a great idea.
Assistant Judge Advocate General Edward Legard sentenced Elliott to 13 months in prison.
Elliot has a string of convictions for as many as 130 other offences.
The judge told Elliott that the vulnerable woman living in the second house he burgled 'could not have defended herself' and told him that 'she checks doors and windows every night but still finds it difficult to sleep peacefully.'
He continued: "You left behind your mobile phone and rucksack.
"That phone contained pictures of yourself, together with a picture of your passport.
"Domestic burglaries are rightly viewed in a very serious way indeed.
"Homeowners are entitled to feel safe and secure in the confines of their homes.
"In so many cases, such as this, it is vulnerable people who are targeted for this particularly unpleasant crime."
Elliott's defence counsel, Liam O'Brien, said that Elliott had recently tackled his heroin problem, but relapsed after the death of his mother in May 2020.
He added that Elliott had made real progress whilst in prison, despite being under 23 hours per day lockdown and contracting coronavirus whilst on remand.
Elliott 'has a real prospect of rehabilitation', he said.
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