DNA evidence frees teenager accused of burglary

Brick thrown through shop window and alcohol taken

A teenager accused of burgling a Peel supermarket has walked free after DNA evidence against him proved inconclusive.

Seventeen-year-old Morgan John Ritchie of Derby Road in Douglas appeared before High Bailiff Jayne Hughes at Douglas Courthouse.

He’d faced a single count of burglary but hadn’t yet entered a plea to the charge.

Prosecution advocate Rachael Braidwood told the court someone used a brick to smash a window at Shoprite on Michael Street in Peel in the early hours of 11 July.

Two bottles of champagne were taken during the break-in, and police took DNA samples from the brick to identify those responsible.

However, the test results showed a number of other DNA sources as well as Mr Ritchie, and Mrs Braidwood said there was no realistic chance of conviction.

She offered no evidence in the case and the charge was dismissed.

Mrs Hughes awarded costs to Mr Ritchie, and he asked the court to remove his name from the internet as he left the dock.