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Is this the best crime article ever? Well, let's get out the checklist and see.
Threw a stuffed owl out the window to avoid police? Check.
The words "Snooker cue"? Check.
"Jailed for Burgling Wrong House" listed as reason for being jailed? Check.
Burglar asked "Where's the upstairs?" in a single story house? Check.
Officially the best crime story ever.
Man jailed for burgling wrong house
15:18 - 23-July-2008
4 readers have commented on this story.
Click here to read their views.
AN ADDICT who once threw a stolen owl out of a car window in a bid to evade a police pursuit accidentally burst into the home of a Plymouth couple and demanded money in the mistaken belief the property was used for drug dealing, a court heard.
Jesse James Lennox, aged 21, and another man brandished a knife and a snooker cue at the terrified husband and wife.
Lennox, who admitted aggravated burglary, was today, Wednesday, jailed for six years at Plymouth Crown Court.
Judge Francis Gilbert said: “It seems you came to this house by mistake hoping to steal drugs or money from drug dealing. I shall assume you had the wrong address.
“This was a terrifying experience for the occupants. You were armed with a knife and a pool cue. It left them extremely worried and frightened, quite understandably, of remaining in their own home.â€
%3Cbody%3E%3Cdiv%20id%3D%22adDiv%22%3E%3CA%20HREF% 3D%22http%3A//ads.anm.co.uk/ADCLICK/CID%3Dfffffffcfffffffcfffffffc/AAMSZ%3D452x118/SITE%3DTHISISPLYM/AREA%3DNEWS/SUBAREA%3DHOMEPAGE/ARTICLE%3D233054/acc_random%3D7395368470/pageid%3D/RS%3D%22%20target%3D%22_new%22%3E%3CIMG%20SRC%3D%2 2http%3A//iad.anm.co.uk/anmdefaultad.gif%22%20ALT%3D%22%22%20border%3D0%20 style%3D%22margin-bottom%3A%200px%3B%22%3E%3C/A%3E%3C/div%3ELennox was also re-sentenced for an offence of aggravated vehicle taking because he was in breach of a community order for driving someone else's car.
He threw a stolen barn owl out of the window during a police chase. Judge Gilbert yesterday jailed him for 18 months for that offence, to run alongside the longer prison term.
Victoria Hoyle, prosecuting, said that Mr and Mrs Innes were watching television at their home in Keyes Close, Devonport, at 10.30pm on February 5 when there was a knock at the door.
She said: “Mr Innes went to open the front door and before he realised what was happening two men entered the property. One was masked and carrying a carving knife and he held it up in a threatening manner towards Mr Innes.â€
The court heard that the knife was 12 to 18 inches long. The other man carried a snooker cue.
Miss Hoyle said that the knifeman marched Mr Innes into the kitchen shouting: 'Where is the money? Show me the money'.
The knifeman checked behind the fittings of the kitchen as if he were looking for something, the court heard.
Miss Hoyle said that the man asked: 'Where's the upstairs?', but the property was a bungalow.
The men both ran out of the house, taking two mobile phones and a PSP games station.
But Miss Hoyle said that Lennox was found by DNA in traces of blood left by the front door.
The court heard that Lennox had a long history of offences for dishonesty dating back to 2001. He has also been convicted of arson reckless as to whether life was endangered.
Ali Rafati, for Lennox, said he was the man holding the cue and not the knife. But the judge said it made little difference because the burglary was a joint enterprise.
Mr Rafati said: “He was using £350 worth of drugs a day having moved on to crack cocaine.â€
The court heard that Lennox had been in debt and had been told by 'Northern drug dealers' to recover drugs or drugs money from an address.
Mr Rafati said that the drug bosses wanted money which they said had not been passed on to them from dealing.
But the court heard that Lennox was determined to turn his life around after completing his prison sentence.
Threw a stuffed owl out the window to avoid police? Check.
The words "Snooker cue"? Check.
"Jailed for Burgling Wrong House" listed as reason for being jailed? Check.
Burglar asked "Where's the upstairs?" in a single story house? Check.
Officially the best crime story ever.
Man jailed for burgling wrong house
15:18 - 23-July-2008
4 readers have commented on this story.
Click here to read their views.
AN ADDICT who once threw a stolen owl out of a car window in a bid to evade a police pursuit accidentally burst into the home of a Plymouth couple and demanded money in the mistaken belief the property was used for drug dealing, a court heard.
Jesse James Lennox, aged 21, and another man brandished a knife and a snooker cue at the terrified husband and wife.
Lennox, who admitted aggravated burglary, was today, Wednesday, jailed for six years at Plymouth Crown Court.
Judge Francis Gilbert said: “It seems you came to this house by mistake hoping to steal drugs or money from drug dealing. I shall assume you had the wrong address.
“This was a terrifying experience for the occupants. You were armed with a knife and a pool cue. It left them extremely worried and frightened, quite understandably, of remaining in their own home.â€
%3Cbody%3E%3Cdiv%20id%3D%22adDiv%22%3E%3CA%20HREF% 3D%22http%3A//ads.anm.co.uk/ADCLICK/CID%3Dfffffffcfffffffcfffffffc/AAMSZ%3D452x118/SITE%3DTHISISPLYM/AREA%3DNEWS/SUBAREA%3DHOMEPAGE/ARTICLE%3D233054/acc_random%3D7395368470/pageid%3D/RS%3D%22%20target%3D%22_new%22%3E%3CIMG%20SRC%3D%2 2http%3A//iad.anm.co.uk/anmdefaultad.gif%22%20ALT%3D%22%22%20border%3D0%20 style%3D%22margin-bottom%3A%200px%3B%22%3E%3C/A%3E%3C/div%3ELennox was also re-sentenced for an offence of aggravated vehicle taking because he was in breach of a community order for driving someone else's car.
He threw a stolen barn owl out of the window during a police chase. Judge Gilbert yesterday jailed him for 18 months for that offence, to run alongside the longer prison term.
Victoria Hoyle, prosecuting, said that Mr and Mrs Innes were watching television at their home in Keyes Close, Devonport, at 10.30pm on February 5 when there was a knock at the door.
She said: “Mr Innes went to open the front door and before he realised what was happening two men entered the property. One was masked and carrying a carving knife and he held it up in a threatening manner towards Mr Innes.â€
The court heard that the knife was 12 to 18 inches long. The other man carried a snooker cue.
Miss Hoyle said that the knifeman marched Mr Innes into the kitchen shouting: 'Where is the money? Show me the money'.
The knifeman checked behind the fittings of the kitchen as if he were looking for something, the court heard.
Miss Hoyle said that the man asked: 'Where's the upstairs?', but the property was a bungalow.
The men both ran out of the house, taking two mobile phones and a PSP games station.
But Miss Hoyle said that Lennox was found by DNA in traces of blood left by the front door.
The court heard that Lennox had a long history of offences for dishonesty dating back to 2001. He has also been convicted of arson reckless as to whether life was endangered.
Ali Rafati, for Lennox, said he was the man holding the cue and not the knife. But the judge said it made little difference because the burglary was a joint enterprise.
Mr Rafati said: “He was using £350 worth of drugs a day having moved on to crack cocaine.â€
The court heard that Lennox had been in debt and had been told by 'Northern drug dealers' to recover drugs or drugs money from an address.
Mr Rafati said that the drug bosses wanted money which they said had not been passed on to them from dealing.
But the court heard that Lennox was determined to turn his life around after completing his prison sentence.
Oops. Unavoidable thread-jack.
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