May 7, 2019 1.32 pm This story is over 57 months old

Teen locked up after admitting Lincoln burglary spree

The boy had a difficult upbringing

A teenage burglar who carried out a string of raids on homes in the south of Lincoln has been locked up.

The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was involved in raids on homes in Bracebridge Heath, Skellingthorpe and Lincoln.

Eunice Opare-Addo, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court that the teenager was involved in a raid at a property in Ridgeview Road, Bracebridge Heath in August last year, which was unoccupied at the time.

A living room window was smashed and items were stolen including clothing, a television and a chainsaw.

Miss Opare-Addo said that while at the property the intruders used the swimming pool, leaving behind beer bottles and mens’ underwear.

In December the boy was involved in an attempt to break into a property in Worcester Close, Bracebridge Heath.

The occupier was watching television at the time. He was alerted by a noise and subsequently discovered his kitchen door lock had been removed.

The boy carried out a further raid on another property in Bracebridge Heath when the owner woke up at 2am on New Year’s Day to find she had been burgled while she was asleep.

Miss Opare-Addo said: “She found damage had been caused to the lock barrel of her kitchen door. The keys to her Audi were missing and the vehicle had been stolen.

“She reported the burglary and officers located the Audi on Newark Road.”

The car failed to stop and reached 100mph on a 30mph limit road during the pursuit that followed. The Audi was later found abandoned. When the boy was detained the car keys were found in his pocket.

In February the boy carried a further burglary at Hodson Close, Skellingthorpe, when car keys were taken and the owner’s Jaguar was driven away.

Miss Opare-Addo said the boy also took part in attempts to break homes in Bracebridge Heath and Rivermead, Lincoln.

The court was told that the boy had previous convictions for burglary, theft and handling stolen goods and at the time of the latest offences he was on a youth rehabilitation order.

The boy admitted three charges of burglary and three attempt burglaries. He also admitted handling stolen goods, aggravated vehicle taking, taking a vehicle without consent, driving without a licence and driving without insurance.

He asked for further offences of attempted burglary and taking a vehicle without consent to be taken into consideration.

The boy was given an 18 month detention and training order and disqualified from driving for two years and nine months.

Sunil Khanna, in mitigation, said the boy had a difficult upbringing.

“He lived in a property that was neglected with a mother who is a drug user.

“His mother, due to her drug problems, was targeted by others.”

Mr Khanna said the boy came under the influence of other drug users, and as a result he became involved in offending.

“At the time his method of escaping from what was going on was to dream of having nice cars. When he committed these burglaries it was simply to be able to drive cars.”

Mr Khanna said that the boy thought that if he damaged any cars the owners could get everything back through their insurance.