A BURGLAR did not have a lotto luck when he broke into a newsagent's and stole ten packs of National Lottery cards.

When Dean Marsden, 28, sent someone into the shop the following day to try and claim prizes on two winning tickets they were blocked - and then his fingerprints were found on them.

But Marsden felt luckier on Friday, October 17, when he admitted the burglary as well as handling a stolen bike - and was delighted with the nine month jail term received.

Marsden literally jumped for joy in the dock, let out a 'whoop' of celebration and leaned forward to pat his solicitor John Lynch on the shoulder.

Bemused Judge William Hart said "I am not sure why he is so elated because the sentence is in line with the guidelines."

Marsden, of Pedersen Way, Dursley, pleaded guilty to burglary of the Bailey's Newsagents shop in the town between July 20 and 30, and theft of the National Lottery cards. He also admitted handling a Saracen bike, owned by Robert Gregory, which was stolen from a shed in Victoria Road, Dursley, between 13-16 August.

Prosecutor Janine Wood said a pane of glass in the newsagent front door was smashed and ten packs of Lottery cards stolen. Nothing else was taken and no extra damage was done

The next day a customer attended at the shop and tried to cash two winning cards, she said. But when staff checked them they found they had already been listed as stolen and barred. Police were called and Marsden's fingerprints were found on them.

Before he could be arrested, however, he received the stolen bike and was reported by a neighbour who saw him riding it to his girlfriend's house and recognised it as Mr Gregory's.

He denied to the woman neighbour that it was stolen and told her to 'prove it.'

That night, said Ms Wood, the bike and other property which had been stolen from the shed were all returned and left outside it,

Judge Hart passed a sentence of eight months jail for the Lottery burglary and one month consecutive for handling the bike.