A thief was caught thanks to  DNA on the hat he left in a stolen car.

Paul Jones, 38, swiped the car keys from the owner of a holistic therapy shop after he called in for advice. He then stole her car and drove 20 miles to Crewe to see his girlfriend.

But in his haste Jones left his beanie hat in the back of the car and police forensics teams ran the DNA they found on it through their database.

Jones, of Westminster Road, Macclesfield, pleaded guilty to two charges of theft when he appeared before local magistrates. He was recalled to prison for 12 weeks for committing the offences while still on licence.

Jones was also ordered to pay £341 compensation to the victim and £85 costs.

The court heard that Jones visited A Little Light, on Chestergate on February 22.

Jonathan Egan, prosecuting, said: “Jones claimed he had a liver complaint. The shop’s owner Sue Fairclough started to look for possible treatments. At some point Jones walked behind her and was picking up items.

“It was only when she came to lock up at the end the day that she realised her keys and Citroen car were missing. Mrs Fairclough had to spend £170 to change the locks on her shop and a further £171 to recover the vehicle four days later.

“She said Jones had seemed like he needed help and she had been completely taken in by him.”

Jones has previous convictions for dealing drugs and burglary. He was released from prison on licence in September.

Andrew Meachin, defending Jones, said: “He went into the shop with a genuine complaint, but saw the keys and impulsively took the items.

“He was having problems with his girlfriend who lives in Crewe and used the car to get there.

“Leaving the beanie hat in the car shows how unsophisticated this crime was.”

Mrs Fairclough said later: “It really hurt me that I opened my heart and my shop to that man and listened to his problems, and he threw it back in my face. It’s a real kick in the teeth.

“I find it astonishing that the police were able to trace him from the DNA on his hat and get my car back. It’s amazing and I’m really grateful.”