Anthony Kirtley caused thousands of pounds of damage as he smashed his way into Learning Curve Group’s construction academy in Sunderland last summer.

The intruder trashed a number of rooms and pulled CCTV cameras off the ceiling during the night of destruction on August 12 last year, which resulted in the training provider having to cancel classes and close its doors to construction students for three days.

After carrying out his untidy search, Kirtley snatched several laptops, computer monitors and power tools worth about £5,500 and caused a further £3,500 worth of damage inside the premises on Pallion Industrial Estate.

But the 30-year-old inadvertently left behind a blood-stained tissue and a cupboard door smeared with his DNA, which he had ripped from its hinges.

As a result, he was subsequently arrested and charged by police.

Kirtley, of Sunderland, pleaded guilty to the burglary when appearing before magistrates in South Tyneside. He will be sentenced next month.

PC Sophie Harkness, of Northumbria Police, said: “This was an inexcusable crime which resulted in a huge amount of damage and inconvenience to many people.”

In a statement, Leanne Kennedy, skills academy manager at Learning Curve Group, said: “The Learning Curve Group was closed for three days due to the mess and unsafe state the building was in which affected students that attend for construction training and education.

“The incident also resulted in many members of staff losing days of teaching and instead (spent time) fixing the damage caused and tidying the centre, as it was not in a workable condition.”