A HOMELESS man who denied burgling a house in Flimby - despite leaving muddy footprints at the scene - has been found guilty.

At Carlisle Crown Court, Lee Moore, 43, claimed he had nothing to do with burgling a couple’s home at Church Road, Flimby, on September 24 last year.

The jury returned their guilty verdict after hearing the evidence.

As he opened the the case for the prosecution, barrister Andrew Evans outlined how the victims of the burglary, Beverley and Andrew Gorley, had been at home in bed in the early hours when they decided to open a window.

When Mrs Gorley was doing this, the court heard, she heard a noise.

She noticed a man walking away from their house along their driveway, said Mr Evans.

“She shouted ‘Oi’ but the man continued to walk away.

When Mr Gorley investigated, he discovered bank cards had been stolen from a drawer in the hallway, near to the unlocked front door.

He also found that the raiders had left muddy footprints on the conservatory floor and in the hallway.

About 40 minutes later, after the couple had contacted police, officers stopped two men who were walking along the A596 towards Maryport, two miles from the Gorleys’ house.

On the ground next to them were three bank cards - the ones stolen from the house in Flimby.

Police also found two torches – one which had been dropped on the ground and another which belonged to Moore.

The court heard that police had established a link between the footprints at the burglary scene and the Nike trainers worn by the defendant’s friend, who later admitted burglary; and the Vans trainers worn by Moore, said Mr Evans.

Moore will be sentenced on January 23.

In the meantime, he was remanded in custody.