A 62-year-old burglar was caught out by police after a rare pair of Adidas trainers led to his identity being revealed.

James Lewsam targeted two homes in St Ives in August and September 2020 when the owners were away on holiday. He stole items including cash and jewellery.

However, police officers managed to identify Lewsam as the criminal after a shoe print was left at both addresses which linked to a rare type of Adidas footwear later found at Lewsam's home.

Officers also trawled through doorbell footage and nearby CCTV images and spotted Lewsam in the area. They identified him from his large build and distinctive gait.

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Lewsam, of Hainton Avenue, Grimsby, Lincolnshire, was jailed for two years at Peterborough Crown Court on Friday (July 26).

Detective Constable Henry Longhurst, who investigated, said: "Coming home from holiday to find you’ve been burgled is a traumatic experience and Lewsam left his victims feeling unsafe and violated.

"Thanks to the vital work of our forensics teams, and nearby CCTV footage, we were able to place him at the scene of both incidents.

"Burglary can have a devastating impact on victims, which is why tackling it is one of our priorities and we are working hard every day to bring offenders before the courts."