A burglar who crept into a bedroom of a family home at night and drove off in their car with stolen items has been jailed.
Dean Lennox, entered a home in Peverell, Plymouth on October 30 last year and took a number of valuables, including a laptop and three bank cards.
The victim told officers Lennox had entered their bedroom and went up to beside their bed as they slept where some of the items were kept.
He then drove off in the family’s Citroen having taken the keys to the vehicle from the flat.
Lennox, 43, appeared at Plymouth Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to a series of offences which took place in October 2024.
Officers later tracked the use of the bank cards at a number of stores and estimated they were used around 20 times before they were cancelled by banks.
Lennox, aged 43, was identified and officer found the stolen car near to his home.
He was arrested and charged with three counts of fraud by false representation, one count of theft of the vehicle and one count of burglary.
Dean Lennox crept into a family home at night, stealing items as they slept before driving off in their Citroen car
Lennox was sentenced to 30 months in prison at Plymouth Crown Court (file photo)
Lennox’s advocate, Chris Cuddihee, offered some mitigation on behalf of his client stating that he was ‘not a violent man’ but accepted that his record for offences was ‘deeply unimpressive’, adding that his life had been a ‘grim tale of addictions to substances that drives his offending behaviour’.
Judge David Evans told Lennox that he recognised he effectively admitted his offences during police interview, that it was a spur of the moment offence and was carried out to get money for drugs. He also noted his previous offences for domestic and non-domestic burglaries.
He sentenced the burglar to 30 months in prison of which he would serve 40 percent before being released on licence, and a victim surcharge of £228.
Judge Evans added: ‘I hope for your sake that this doesn’t become a revolving door’.
