The convicted attempted burglar failed to turn up for two probation appointments because he had been drinking too much, a court heard
Lewis Mist, pictured outside Hull Crown Court(Image: Hull Live)
Heavy drinking sessions the night before he was due to see the probation service nearly cost a young defendant a very unwelcome prison sentence for breaching a court order. Lewis Mist did not turn up for two appointments because he had been drinking too much – but he has now been warned at Hull Crown Court that he could be jailed if he carries on with his antics.
Mist, 21, of Driffield, admitted breaching a community order imposed on May 23 last year for an offence of attempted burglary on July 25, 2024. He admitted failing to turn up for rehabilitation days on September 23 and December 19.
Holly Thompson, mitigating, said that Mist had made progress since the order was imposed but he had a difficulty with alcohol. “He was introduced at a very young age to alcohol,” said Miss Thompson.
Mist turned to alcohol “as a way of coping” with situations. “He is still struggling with that addiction,” said Miss Thompson. He missed the probation service appointments because of “consuming alcohol the night before”.
Judge Tahir Khan KC warned Mist: “This is the second breach. If you don’t knuckle down and get this order done, you will be punished more severely. You must continue to carry out work on the order.
“I don’t want to see a further breach because it won’t end well if there is a further breach. Make sure that there aren’t any further breaches.” Mist was ordered to do an extra 10 days’ rehabilitation.
At the original hearing in May last year, the court was told that Mist tried his luck at seeing if he could burgle a house – but he soon ended up in hot water after the occupier watched telltale doorbell camera pictures of what was going on, as it was actually happening.
A damning screenshot was posted of the incident on social media and it led to the would-be intruder – Mist – recognising himself and handing himself in to police. He later hit on the “ridiculous” idea of brazenly trying to talk his way out of trouble by pretending that he was not involved, the court heard that day.
CCTV pictures showed Mist walking down the side of a house in Driffield in the early hours of the morning. The occupier watched what was happening on doorbell camera pictures and saw Mist walking down the side of the house before putting his hand out and trying to press the door handle. He walked past the door towards the back garden before walking back past the camera and leaving.
A screenshot of the incident was put out on social media. Mist handed himself in at a police station. During police interview, however, Mist made no comment to all questions.
He had no previous convictions but he had cautions for five previous offences, including shoplifting and assault. At a previous hearing before Hull Magistrates’ Court, Mist denied the offence and elected to have the case heard by a jury at Hull Crown Court – despite the doorbell camera pictures.
He agreed in court that this was “ridiculous” but he blamed his solicitor for that. “It was my solicitor that advised me,” he told the court. At the earlier hearing, Mist had been given 30 days’ rehabilitation.