‘He had slept behind a supermarket the previous night and was desperate’
Lee Jennings appeared at Hull Crown Court(Image: Humberside Police)
A serial burglar with an “appalling” history of previous convictions tried his luck at trying to break into a house because he was “homeless, tired and hungry” after sleeping behind a supermarket the night before. Lee Jennings was “particularly cold” when he tried a door handle early in the morning and he was “simply wanting to get warm”.
A doorbell camera alerted the occupiers of the house to what was going on and Jennings was soon recognised by the police, Hull Crown Court heard. Jennings, 47, of Hereford Street, off Hessle Road, west Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted attempted burglary on October 7.
Stephen Welch, prosecuting, said that a couple left their home in Brigg Drive, Hessle, but at 6.20am, they received an alert from their doorbell camera. Jennings was seen carrying a baseball bat when he approached their front door and tried to open it.
He walked away. The matter was reported to the police and Jennings was identified. During police interview, he made no comment to all questions.
The court heard that he had an “appalling” record of previous convictions for burglary and other offences. He was a third-strike burglar when he was jailed for 876 days in August 2024.
Jane Rapin, mitigating, said that the offence was committed on impulse after Jennings was released from custody and was homeless, tired and hungry. “He was no doubt under the influence of alcohol,” said Miss Rapin.
“His driver that morning was that it had been particularly cold. He had slept behind a supermarket the previous night and was desperate.
“It was neither targeted nor planned. He simply tried the door handle. He had only recently been released from custody and had spent several nights sleeping behind the supermarket.
“On the morning of this offence, he was up and was simply wanting to get warm. He asks me to apologise to the victims and hopes that his actions have not caused them any upset or distress.”
Jennings was carrying items because he was homeless. He had made progress while in custody and he realised the catalyst for his offending. He last worked before lockdown and had previously been a joiner’s mate and a labourer.
“It’s his priority now to get some stability,” said Miss Rapin. “He is seeing things very differently.” Jennings was given six months’ drug rehabilitation and 10 days’ rehabilitation.
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