Burglar Caught Cold by Hose DNA: Jailed for Nearly Three Years
Spray Gun DNA Nets Folkestone Burglar
Michael McDonagh’s bungled break-in has landed him behind bars for two years and eight months. The 33-year-old tried to force open a locked bedroom door using a garden hose spray gun during a 2019 robbery in Folkestone.
Failed Burglary in Broad Daylight
On 19 October 2019, McDonagh broke into a Radnor Park Road home while the owner was out between 11am and 12:30pm.
The victim returned to find the back door forced open and several rooms ransacked. A tablet, watch, and mobile phone were stolen.
Locked bedroom doors slowed him down. Using tools from the utility room, McDonagh tried, and failed, to pry the doors open. He left the hose spray gun wedged in a bedroom door—his undoing.
DNA Evidence Seals the Deal
Forensic experts discovered McDonagh’s DNA on the spray gun. Arrested on 7 November, he claimed the DNA match was a mistake. It wasn’t.
He admitted one count of burglary and was sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on 19 December 2019. McDonagh, with no fixed address, has been in custody since his charge.
Police Praise Tough Sentence
“McDonagh is an opportunistic offender who targeted the victim during a 90 minute window when they left their home unattended,” said PC Sarah Copeland, Kent Police’s lead investigator.
“Burglary is a deeply intrusive offence that can leave victims feeling unsafe in their own homes long after the crime.”
“The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence. I’m pleased McDonagh can no longer target innocent members of the public.”
