A young drug user 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 recognising himself and handing himself in to police. But, despite the evidence against him, he later tried to talk his way out of trouble by initially claiming that he was not involved, Hull Crown Court heard.
Lewis Mist, 20, of The Crescent, Bridlington, admitted an offence of attempted burglary on July 25. He originally denied the offence but later changed his plea to guilty.
Billy Torbett, prosecuting, said that CCTV pictures showed Mist near 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.
“The defendant walked past the door towards the back garden before walking back past the camera and leaving,” said Mr Torbett. A screenshot of the incident was posted on social media.
“The defendant actually handed himself in to the police station,” said Mr Torbett. 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 claimed it was what his solicitor had advised him to do.
Mist claimed that he did not know why he had been in Driffield that night when he lived in Bridlington at the time. He agreed that he needed to give up alcohol and drugs because he risked getting into further trouble because of them.
Holly Thompson, mitigating, said that Mist was unemployed and he had suffered problems. “He is still consuming alcohol,” said Miss Thompson.
“He suffers with withdrawal. He accepts that he has a problem. He is trying and attempting to reduce his alcohol misuse.”
Mist was given 30 days’ rehabilitation.