A man has been convicted of breaking into a home and stealing £20,000 worth of valuables, after DNA was found on a piece of latex glove found at the site.

Harry Mackay, 22, from Queens Road, Thames Ditton, was charged with burglary following a break-in at a house in Acre Road sometime between September 1 and September 2, 2012.

The trial began at Kingston Crown Court on Monday, with Mr Mackay taking to the stand in the middle of the week to say he did not know anything about the burglary – although he was unable to say where he was at the time.

Defence counsel Melissa Millin, who described Mr Mackay’s learning disabilities, said: “The Crown would have you believe this case is simple – a gang of experienced thieves with gloves hellbent on relieving contents [from the house]. Quite frankly, he would be a liability.”

The piece of latex glove was found in a Foot Locker bag, with jeans belonging to a resident of the home stuffed inside following the break-in.

A Vauxhall Insignia was also taken from the driveway of the home, but found some days later with no prints matching those of Mackay.

The prosecution counsel read out a witness statement that described the state of the home as “disturbed” after the break-in, that saw one of the locks on the door completely broken.

Among the valuables stolen were two Apple computers, a bottle of Chanel perfume, an iPhone and gold jewellery, as well as £100.

Mackay said he used gloves for work, but did not know how his DNA had got into the home.

More than two weeks after the burglary, Mackay fled from police officers, not knowing he was wanted, but due to bad experiences with the police, according to his defence counsel.

The jury returned a guilty verdict on Thursday.