February 19, 2001 14:10: A MAN whose gambling problems led him to burgle a neighbour's home has been jailed for nine months.

Paul Dutton, 21, who lived in Carrington Road, High Wycombe, at the time of the incident, was linked to the crime after DNA testing matched his blood to blood and fingerprints found at the burgled house, two doors away from Dutton's own home, said Paul Reid, prosecuting, at Aylesbury Crown Court on Friday.

Dutton, now of Windrush Drive, Micklefield, pleaded guilty at the court to the break-in on September 21,1999.

Mr Reid said £3,000 worth of property, including a stereo system and jewellery, was stolen.

Jane Alt, mitigating, said Dutton had learnt a lesson after being jailed for a month in February last year for breaching a community service order.

She added that Dutton was not arrested for the burglary until more than seven months later, and a short prison term he had served had taught him a lesson.

She said: "It had the effect of terrifying him, wanting never to go back."

She added that Dutton had had various problems at the time of the burglary including gambling and formidable debts.

Miss Alt said that the defendant had now embarked on a new life with a settled girlfriend and had a determination to repay the trust others had shown in him by not reoffending.

Passing sentence, Judge Roger Connor, told Dutton: "I have a very clear view that if I were to put you on probation, even a probation order which would impose quite a heavy burden on you, it would be perceived by the public as being excessively lenient. I am forced to conclude that imprisonment is the only appropriate sentence, but I shall limit that to the shortest period I can properly pass nine months."