A BURGLAR who helped steal almost £10,000 worth of drink and tobacco in raids on shops and petrol stations was trapped after leaving his footprints at the scene of his crimes.

Miguel Costa was on licence from a young offenders’ institution when he and two other masked accomplices – one a woman – carried out two middle-of-the-night break-ins with a stolen Ford Fiesta.

Prosecutor Simon Edwards told Winchester Crown Court how CCTV captured the raid on a Co-op store in Highcliffe last month when a drain cover was hurled through the door.

The three rushed inside but only managed to grab a few items before the shop’s smokescreen device activated and the shop filled with smoke.

Minutes later, the trio struck again at the Hordle Service Station in Lymington, when police received a 999 call about three people driving away with £4,000 worth of tobacco and cigarettes.

The Ford was found alight in a Forestry Commission car park a few miles away.

Nearby was another vehicle containing alcohol and Costa and the woman were arrested after a police dog picked up their scent.

No details about either incident were released by police at the time.

Costa, of Glengarry, New Milton, admitted two counts of burglary and one of the aggravated taking and driving away of a car without consent. He also asked for seven other offences to be considered, which included a £5,000 raid on a second garage.

The court heard he had 17 previous court appearances for 40 offences, Jailing him for two years and banning him from driving for 12 months, Judge Peter Henry told Costa the burglaries had all the hallmarks of an organised outing.

The court heard a second man was jailed for six months by magistrates for his role and the woman was cautioned.