A SERIAL burglar armed with a crowbar was tied to a fence after being caught red-handed trying to break into a rural home.
Dean Harris, 42, never expected to see Glen Joyce return to his house in Main Street, Burton Agnes, as he was jamming a crow bar and screw driver in to the top of his foyer door.
Mr Joyce initially thought it was a postman struggling with a delivery. When he realised it was a burglar he confronted Harris to ask him what was going on. Harris tried to push past Mr Joyce, but was chased down the garden by Mr Joyce and a work colleague. They who were able to overpower him. Harris was caught and then tied to a fence while the police were called to the scene, Hull Crown Court heard on Monday December 17.
Harris of Cranbeck Close, Bridlington, appeared in custody via video link from Hull Prison for sentence for a charge of attempted burglary. He caused £1,350 worth of damage and Mr Joyce had to take time off work because of an injured ankle.
The court heard Harris had five convictions for burglary between 1987 and 1994. He was jailed in 2003 for two and a half years for three separate burglaries.
Defence barrister Steven Garth admitted Harris had an awful record. “The root cause of these offences is drugs,” said Mr Garth. “He has always had a struggle with drugs through-out his adult life. At the time of this offence, every waking moment was spent either consuming drugs or trying to find drugs.”
Judge Michael Mettyear told Harris his claim to have stumbled on the home during a country drive showed his lies. “He either lies to himself, or thinks we are fools,” said Judge Mettyear. “You have a record of previous convictions that go back a long way. You were spending a great deal of money on drugs and were attempting to burgle this house to get money for drugs.”
He jailed Harris for nine-months warning him his next burglary would see him jailed for a minimum of three years.