Offender jailed after being caught by blood left at scene of crime

A robber has been jailed for 30 months after blood left at the scene of a crime led to him being identified by detectives.

Nineteen-year-old Kaeden Gardner was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court today (Friday 29 September) after pleading guilty to a raft of offences at an earlier court hearing.

On 6 January this year, he was at a supermarket in Blaby Road, Wigston when he became involved in an argument with a member of security staff who saw that he was in possession of a knife. The incident, which was captured on CCTV, was reported to police.

At around 2am on 26 February, Gardner went into a fast-food restaurant in Almond Road with a group of others, where he threatened another customer and ripping a necklace that he was wearing, taking it and leaving the premises.

At 5.30pm the same day, Gardner and a group went into a newsagent in Cavendish Road, attempting to steal various items including alcohol. When he was challenged by the owners of the shop, Gardner started punching them, following them into the back where he then smashed glass door panels. However, he cut his hand in the process meaning his blood was left at the scene.

On 11 March, Gardner, of no fixed abode, was arrested from an address in Wigston, and a search of a bedroom uncovered a quantity of cannabis.

He pleaded guilty to:

• One count of robbery – relating to the incident in Almond Road
• One count of affray and one count of causing criminal damage – both relating to the incidents in Cavendish Road
• One count of possession of a bladed article – relating to the incident in Blaby Road
• One count of possession of cannabis

The sentence also includes an offence of aggravated vehicle taking in Wigston on 18 March 2022.

Detective Constable Fiona Day, from South Leicester CID, was the investigating officer. She said: “Gardner is a prolific offender who is well-known to police.

“He isn’t bothered about the harm he’s causing to our communities or the impact his offending has on others – either on a physical or emotional level.

“I hope the public – but especially those he harmed during these incidents – see the fact that he’s now serving time in prison for his offending as a positive outcome.”