A CRIME scene expert with Durham Police examined footprints left at a break-in scene and identified the suspect, a court was told yesterday.

Scenes of crime expert John Marr, 14 years an investigator with the force, identified teenager Gary Jenkinson's trainers.

Jenkinson, 17, was arrested the next day and admitted burgling the flat and stealing a DVD player and DVDs.

Mr Marr took one look at the footprints on the window ledge and floor of the first- floor flat in Darlington, and he said they matched Jenkinson's trainers, which he examined nine days before in another burglary investigation.

Judge John Walford gave Mr Marr a commendation yesterday at Teesside Crown Court when he sentenced Jenkinson to 12 months detention and a training order.

Jenkinson, of Portland Place, Darlington, who was already serving an 18 months drugs testing and treatment order, pleaded guilty to the burglary on February 3 in Wordsworth Road, Darlington.

He asked for another offence of theft from a vehicle on October 19 to be taken into consideration.