Prolific South Yorkshire burglar caught after police find DNA & bite marks in discarded block of cheese
A prolific burglar was caught after he left DNA and teeth marks in a block of cheese he gnawed on and discarded during one of his house raids.
During Shane Walker’s latest spate of burglaries, he stole several irreplaceable items including war medals and an engagement ring a widow had kept safe for more than 60 years.
High-value items including cars, mountain bikes, a work van and expensive jewellery were also taken from the homes where Walker struck in Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster.
But Walker, aged 38, left a trail of evidence behind at most of the break-ins, all of which were committed between August and October 2025.
This included DNA and bite marks in a block of cheese he stole from the fridge at one of the homes he targeted.
The court heard how in most of the five burglaries, Walker gained access to homes by smashing panes of glass in windows or doors.
Walker’s co-defendant, Barry Schofield, was an accomplice in two of the burglaries, one of which was disturbed and cut short after an alarm at the property was activated.
In statements read to Sheffield Crown Court, the victims described the damaging impact of the “vile invasion” of their homes.
One described how their child was the first to enter the property after their break-in, leaving them traumatised; while another said he now had difficulties in bringing his children to his home because of their mother’s concerns that they are no longer safe there.
Judge David Dixon told the two burglars: “We’ve all heard the way the victims talk about these offences…one of the complainants spoke of the ‘vile invasion,’ which is what this involves.
“It’s not just the breaking of the window, it’s not just the knocking in of the door, it’s not just the repairing of the locks. For the average person, that’s two or three days of hassle to deal with.
“Next is the fact people don’t feel safe in their own homes. It’s the fact they lose something that in some cases may be seen to others as a bit of tat, but to an individual it’s precious because it was given to them by their granddad 30 years ago.
“You’ve taken war medals...you’ve heard how that particular gentleman gave his time to serve his country.
“You’ve taken a lady’s engagement ring which she had for 60 years. There’s no way that could be replaced. Even if it could be, it’s tainted now.
“He has issues with his first partner’s kids now because she doesn’t want them to go to his house, because she’s concerned they wouldn’t be safe.
“All because you wanted to break in for a bit of cash, and whatever you needed.”
Walker, formerly of Gosling Gate Road, Goldthorpe, Rotherham, pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary and two counts of theft.
Schofield, 46, of no fixed abode but formerly of Thurnscoe, Barnsley, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and three counts of fraud by false representation - relating to purchases made on stolen bank cards.
Stephanie Hollis, prosecuting, told the court that both defendants have extensive criminal records spanning dozens of offences committed over several years.
Walker has a record of 39 convictions from 78 offences , with 23 entries for domestic burglaries.
Following Walker’s latest offence spree he was recalled to prison on a previous sentence, from which he is not due to be released until July 2028.
Ms Hollis said Scholfield has a record spanning 44 offences from 18 previous court appearances, with recent entries for three counts of battery and one count of criminal damage.
Defending Walker, Cheryl Dudley told the court that her client is “very sorry” for his actions.
She said Walker was released from his most recent stint behind bars in July 2025, just a month before he embarked on the string of burglaries.
“He was released and had no fixed abode, but through his own efforts he had made contact with a rehabilitation programme in Stoke…it was a religious environment, and after two weeks he found it wasn’t something he could maintain,” Ms Dudley said.
Walker spent time in the care system as a child and was coerced by others into crimes at the age of just 11-years-old, after which time he did not return to school.
“From the age of 16/17, he served his first custodial sentence,” Ms Dudley said, adding: “The reality is he’s spent most of his life in custody since he was an adult.”
Ms Dudley suggested Walker was not someone who is incapable of considering the “awful consequences” of his offending; adding that he is now optimistic about being enrolled on a rehabilitation program with the potential to change his life.
Defending Schofield, Julian Jones said that while Schofield enjoyed a relatively stable home life as a child, an experience of taking ecstasy at the age of 11 or 12, had damaging and far-reaching consequences.
“At 15 he took crack for the first time…committed his first offence at 16.”
“He’s been drifting in and out of jobs not lasting very long,” Mr Jones said, adding that Schofield has spent most of his life battling Class A drug addictions.
Judge Dixon rejected calls from Mr Jones suggesting he could step back from imposing an immediate custodial sentence in Schofield’s case, after finding there were no “exceptional circumstances” to allow him to make that decision.
He jailed both men, handing Walker a prison sentence of five years, six months, and passing down a term of three years to Schofield.