December 16, 2015 10.13 am This story is over 99 months old

Burglar who raided Lincoln home while occupants slept “deeply ashamed”

Prison sentence: A burglar broke into a property while the occupants slept unaware, Lincoln Crown Court was told.
Lincoln Crown Court inside Lincoln Castle. | Photo: The Lincolnite

A burglar broke into a property while the occupants slept unaware, Lincoln Crown Court was told.

Two women, who were looking after the terraced house in Well Lane, Lincoln while the owner was away, had no idea the raid had taken place until later when they found items stacked up outside the back door waiting to be removed.

Gurdial Singh, prosecuting, said that DVDs, books and clothing, together with a box of chocolates, were among the items taken.

Police later carried out forensic testing and discovered the DNA of Mark McKenzie had been left on an item of property.

McKenzie was arrested but initially denied the offence claiming to have a medical condition that meant it was not physically possible for him to have carried out the raid.

But in court McKenzie, 38, of Napier Street, Lincoln pleaded guilty to carrying out the burglary between April 3 and 7 this year.

The court heard he had convictions for 86 previous offences but none for house burglary.

He was jailed for 12 months.

Sunil Khanna, defending, said that McKenzie had a drug problem at the time but hopes to sort himself out while serving his sentence.

“In April this year his drug taking was at its highest. The month is something of a blur to him.

“He has never even considered a house burglary in the past and he has found it very difficult to accept that he was involved in this.

“He is deeply and thoroughly ashamed. He simply wants to do his time and come out and start afresh, drug free.”