THE home of a former government minister was ‘ransacked’ by a burglar who left empty beer cans strewn across the kitchen and lewd graffiti on the walls, a court has heard.

Benjamin Strong, of Aldrich Road, Oxford, is accused of burgling the North Oxford home of Brooks Newmark after his DNA was found on an empty can left at the scene.

The court heard how the home owner had been holidaying in Rwanda when the break-in happened sometime between July 31 and August 23, 2017.

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Taking to the witness stand as part of the retrial that started yesterday at Oxford Crown Court, Mr Newmark said: “I came into my front hall and as I walked through on my right side is the sitting room where I noticed the shelves [of the drinks cabinet] had no bottles on there.

“I didn’t quite absorb that, and I went through to the kitchen and noticed it looked a mess.”

Oxford Mail:

Leafy Winchester Road in North Oxford, where Mr Newmark's house was burgled.

He added: “Books were pulled off the shelves, all the cupboards were opened and [there was] coke, beer, or drink which had been thrown all over the floor, and someone spilt salt or sugar on the floor so as you walked through the kitchen it was all sticky and crunchy.”

The jury were shown pictures of the trail of disruption left through the house in Winchester Road which included a number of drawers and cupboards left open, clothes dumped on the floor, and various items sifted out of storage.

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It is believed that the home was broken into through forcing open a window.

Mr Newmark added: “I believe every single room had been gone through, some were more ransacked than others, but every room had been gone through.”

The photos also showed cans of drink left at the scene on which Mr Strong’s DNA was found.

Prosecutor Edward Hollingsworth said that chance of the swab being someone else’s was one in a billion.

Oxford Mail:

Winchester Road in North Oxford on Google Maps.

He also added the value of the estimated 20 drinks bottles taken from the cabinet was about £300, four tumblers worth about £80, gold cufflinks worth about £200 and electricals worth £400.

There was also five wooden African figures taken, plus a menorah and gold-coloured sweet plate.

The court heard how many of the stolen items held sentimental value having been passed through the family and that none of them had since been recovered.

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Lewd graffiti had also been scribbled on the walls of the cottage and various items moved around including paintings from the hallway being put up on the kitchen work surfaces.

Mr Strong, 20, denies one count of burglary.

The court heard how prior to his police interview Mr Strong prepared a statement which said ‘I do not know the address or where it is’.

It added: “I cannot explain how my forensics have been linked to this allegation/offence’.

The trial continues.