Heroin addict jailed after multiple burglaries

A heroin addict who carried out a series of burglaries to fund his drug habit was jailed for three years at Lincoln Crown Court.

Stephen Kellow was already on bail facing theft charges when he broke into a property in Maltkiln Lane, Waddington, at 3.30am on January 6 2019.

Catherine Picardo, prosecuting, said that Kellow, together with an accomplice, smashed a window to get into the house. The stolen items included designer watches, an iPhone, bottles of wine and brandy and cash.

The victims were asleep in bed at the time but woke after hearing their bedroom door close.

Miss Picardo said: “They had previously been victims of a burglary.

“The man looked out of the window and on the gravel driveway he saw two males.

“The driver’s door of his wife’s Lexus was open and the two men were in the process of getting into the car. He banged on the window and that caused the two men to run away.

“He rang the police. The police arrived and were able to locate Kellow because the iPhone had a tracker device which was activated. He was arrested after being found a short distance from his home address.”

Kellow was charged with burglary and released on bail but just a week later carried out two more house burglaries.

Miss Picardo said that Kellow, with another man, forced a window to enter a house in Rivermead, off Hykeham Road, Lincoln, while the occupiers were out.

The pair took jewellery and electrical items before making off in two cars that had been parked in the driveway.

On the same day Kellow also broke into a property on Newark Road, Lincoln, stealing knives and a baton.

Kellow was arrested and confessed when interviewed by police saying he had a heroin addiction that caused him to commit burglary.

Kellow, 35, of Brant Road, Lincoln, admitted burglary at Maltkiln Lane, Waddington, on January 6 this year. He also admitted two further burglaries on January 13 together with driving without insurance.

Judge Steven Coupland, passing sentence, told him: “What makes this worse is the fact that both sets of offences were committed while you were on bail. The only proper sentence today is a prison sentence.”

Sunil Khanna, in mitigation, said that Kellow became depressed following the death of his father in 2017 and turned to heroin.

“That led to the loss of his job and the loss of his relationship. In 2018 he spent a lot of time on the streets due to his addiction. He had fallen right down to his lowest ebb.”

Mr Khanna said that Kellow, who had no previous convictions for burglary, has been attempting to sort out his life since being remanded in custody following his arrest on the January 13.

“He is appalled by the fact that he entered a house while the occupier was there,” said Mr Khanna.