A SEASONED criminal has been locked up after he was caught on CCTV trying to break into a number of homes and cars as he wandered the streets with an unknown accomplice.
Paul Donnelly was identified by his bright orange puffa jacket and despite his efforts to outrun the police he was caught and arrested.
Teesside Crown Court heard how the other suspect has never been traced after successfully avoiding the pursuing police.
Christopher Bevan, prosecuting, said Donnelly was carrying a hammer and a screwdriver as he made his way along Rosedale Road, Nunthorpe, in the early hours of the morning checking for insecure homes and vehicles.
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He said: “A woman was made aware of two men trying to enter a property on her street, she checked her CCTV and she could see that two males had approached her address and another on the other side of the road.
“One of the males was wearing a distinct orange puffa jacket and a blue hat, which transpired to be the defendant, and he is seen trying her door as well as attempting to open the doors of a car on her driveway.”
The other victim was awoken by her dog barking and the homeowner saw two men trying the door handles on her home and car before calling the police.
Mr Bevan added: “The victims have said that no one has the right to enter their land and try to gain access to their properties.”
Donnelly, of Bolton Court, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to two charges of attempted burglary, a charge of going equipped for burglary, and vehicle interference on April 28 this year.
The court heard how he had 48 conviction for 82 offences, including four for burglary.
Paul Rooney, in mitigation, said his client maintained that he was not the prime mover in criminal escapade and argued that nothing had been stolen.
He added: “He does have a life to come out to, it’s not much of a life, but it is at least the fatherhood of his children.
“At 36 he is starting to realise that he is not a young man anymore and this type of stupid impulsive behaviour is something he should start thinking about before he commits himself to in future.”
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Judge Jonathan Carroll sentenced the 36-year-old father-of-seven to 20 months in prison.
He added: “You were out at about 2am to see what opportunities would present themselves to you, to burgle or to steal, the was not an impromptu manner, you were out looking for opportunities to burgle and steal, and you were equipped to do.”
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