He did manage to get a summer house door open but didn’t take anything, a court heard
A homeless drug addict made a complete mess of trying to break into two houses, including their garages and a summer house, despite determined and repeated efforts to smash his way inside. Serial thief Adam Wright was spotted on CCTV pictures while making his bungling efforts to force locks and doors in the early hours.
The police were alerted during his ham-fisted break-in attempts and he was soon caught red-handed nearby, Hull Crown Court heard. Wright, 31, of no fixed address, but from Hull, and recently in custody on remand, admitted two offences of attempted burglary on August 3.
Samantha Laws, prosecuting, said that, after 4am, a woman woke her sleeping husband to say that she had heard noises at their home in Kingston Road, Willerby. He checked CCTV pictures and saw Wright in the back garden trying to get into their summer house.
Wright managed to pull the door open and looked around. He walked out without taking any property and went to the garage, where he tried to open the side door by forcefully pulling on the handles.
“He wasn’t able to gain entry,” said Miss Laws. Wright moved to the patio doors of the house and tried to get in by swinging his body weight to push down on the door handles.
“He was again unsuccessful,” said Miss Laws. “He left through the side gate. He attempted to open the garage main door and the car passenger door.”
The police were alerted and Wright was arrested shortly afterwards. He was searched and was found with items and bolt croppers.
The woman told her neighbour about the incident and he discovered that Wright had first targeted his home. Wright climbed over a rear fence and tried to get in through the main garage door and a side door.
“He crossed the patio and attempted to force open the side gate, which leads to the front of the property,” said Miss Laws. “He wasn’t able to push it open.
“He attempted to open the back patio doors.” Wright then climbed over a fence to the house of the other victims.
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During police interview, Wright made no comment to all questions. He had convictions for 44 previous offences, including 18 theft-related and two for domestic burglary in 2016 and 2018. His most recent conviction was for criminal damage in September last year.
Molly Minter, mitigating, said that, shortly before the offences, Wright became homeless and he was unable to pay his drug debt. He thought that the only option was to raise money by illegal means.
Wright was remorseful. “He feels incredibly embarrassed by his actions,” said Miss Minter. “He feels devastated by what he has done to these victims.
“He took away somebody else’s safe space. He very much wishes that he had not done that.” Wright had a six-month-old son. “His overwhelming priority is to be a very good role model for his son,” said Miss Minter.
Recorder Peter Makepeace KC told Wright: “There was obviously a degree of planning. You were equipped for burglary. There were people in the premises. There was emotional impact. There was some damage caused.”
Wright was jailed for 18 months.