A burglar was left red-faced after his novelty underpants were held up in court and used as evidence against him.
Darren Machon, 39, from Bridgend, was jailed for 34 months on Tuesday having been arrested for the burglary of a house in Park Street, Bridgend, in February.
Two incidents on the same day
Little did he know the distinctive underpants he was wearing on the day of the burglary - which were covered in hot dogs, doughnuts, French fries and burgers - would put him in the frame and land him in court.
Machon was arrested for the burglary while he was in South Wales Police custody following a separate incident on the same day.
He was already wanted by police having been recalled to prison, and on February 23, 2016, officers in Bridgend town centre spotted him in a lane behind Cheltenham Terrace, in the passenger seat of a silver Mondeo.
They got out of their patrol car and tried to stop the vehicle but it was driven erratically, bumping into walls and narrowly missing officers who had to dive out of the way.
The vehicle was driven along Nolton Street and was abandoned at the end of Merthyr Mawr Road, but Machon was caught soon after and taken into custody.
Underwear recognised by a witness
As he was getting changed in his cell an officer noticed his distinctive boxer shorts matched those described by a witness of a burglary earlier that day.
The underpants were described by a woman who had got within just a few feet of Machon as she caught him red-handed, as he was bent over and rummaging through her downstairs cupboards at around 6.40am.
He was later positively identified by the woman.
Detective Constable Darren Bowen said: "I would like to commend the officers who put themselves in great danger as they tried to apprehend Darren Machon in Bridgend town centre on February 23, 2016.
"The witness in this case and also the officer who recognised the underpants also deserve credit as it was their vigilance and attention to detail which no doubt ensured that Darren Machon was linked to the burglary.
'A prolific criminal'
"He is a prolific criminal who will spend a number of years behind bars where he belongs – no doubt he’ll spend a few of those years thinking about how he should have put his lucky pants on that day."
As well as burglary, Machon was also convicted of dangerous driving and sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday, August 30.
He was sentenced to 34 months in prison and was also disqualified from driving for 41 months.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/burglar-jailed-34-months-after-11820012
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