Dog DNA Puts Man in Prison

22 April 2010, 09:11 | Updated: 22 April 2010, 09:22

A man's been jailed after his pet dogs DNA was found in the burnt out car he stole in Dartford.

Hair and blood samples from Peter Mahoney's Staffordshire Bull Terrior called Buster, were matched to samples found in an Audi that was discovered dumped six days after being stolen during a car-jacking on London Road in Stone.

Mahoney, 33, of Anerley Road, Norwood, appeared at Maidstone Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to racially aggravated wounding and possession of a firearm on 5 November 2008 and robbery and possession of an imitation firearm on 6 November 2008.

The court heard that on 5 November 2008, Mahoney racially abused a customer at a shop in Anerley Road, Norwood after an exchange over the use of a mobile phone in the store. Mahoney, went to his house which was further along the road, got an air pistol and returned to look for the victim. He then shot him in the face as he sat in his car. As a result of the attack, the victim has a pellet permanently embedded in his jaw.

The next day, in London Road, Stone, Mahoney pulled onto the petrol garage forecourt in London Road, Stone, at around 10.20pm where he saw a group of friends sitting eating pizza in an Audi Quattro. The court heard that Mahoney approached the car, said he was the police, then produced an air pistol and ordered the occupants out of the car. He then got in and drove it off. The stolen Audi was found burnt out six days later.

Detective Constable Geoff McCreery was in court for the sentencing. He said: “Even though the car had been set alight there were forensic opportunities we could harvest. A few days later I got a warrant to seize Buster and took him to a vet who took hair and blood samples. These were then matched with those found in the Audi, along with forensic evidence, which linked Mahoney.”

Mahoney was arrested and charged, pleading guilty to all four counts on the day his trial was due to start.

Judge Martin Joy, QC, said: “You present a significant risk to the public due to your pattern of violent offending. You have a violent nature and those who behave as you have done will always be severely punished and the public need to be protected.”

Judge Joy passed an indeterminate sentence for public protection with Mahoney being told he will serve at least four years. He will be on licence for life after release.