A BURGLAR who stole from two hotels, a nightclub and someone’s home has been jailed.
Robbie Lee Lyons committed his crime spree over an 18-day period in March and April of this year.
Bournemouth Crown Court heard Lyons had amassed 51 previous court appearances for 107 offences.
His latest offending included his third dwelling burglary, which triggered a mandatory prison term.
Sentencing Lyons on June 29, Recorder Michael Bowes QC said: “You have a very bad record indeed.
“Fifty-one court appearances, 107 offences, seven non-dwelling burglaries and now your third dwelling burglary, which attracts a minimum term of three years’ imprisonment unless the court finds it would be unjust in the circumstances.”
The defendant, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to one charge of dwelling burglary and three counts of non-dwelling burglary.
He was sentenced to 876 days’ imprisonment, having received the maximum 20 per credit for his guilty pleas.
Prosecuting, Stuart Ellacott said Lyons’s recent offending spate began on March 17 when he gained entry into a home in Knyveton Road through the rear French doors and stole £650 worth of power tools.
The following day he raided Sound Circus in Holdenhurst Road.
Mr Ellacott said it was not clear how the defendant gained entry to the premises but the defendant made his way to the bar area and stole alcohol and a card payment terminal to the value of £500.
The prosecutor said: “The owner of the premises attended because of the alarm and police. At about 6.10pm whilst he was then viewing the CCTV, he saw the defendant stood outside in a smoking area of the club with a female, recognising him from the CCTV.
“He was able to follow him and this led to him (Lyons) being arrested.”
Having been bailed, Lyons burgled the Norfolk Royale Hotel in Richmond Hill between midnight and 8am on March 31.
Again it was not clear how he gained entry, but it was not through the front entrance, said Mr Ellacott.
The bar area was the defendant’s target again and this time he took £379.86 worth of alcohol.
Lyons’s final offence saw him smash his way into the Suncliff Hotel on the night of April 2 and morning of April 3. He stole £250 worth of alcohol from a secure unit and £300 worth of costume jewellery, which was on display in the East Overcliff Drive hotel.
This raid saw the offender cause £750 worth of damage, having broken a window and forced access to the alcohol.
Mr Ellacott said the hotel was being renovated at the time of the burglary and dust on the ground had created a footprint trail of the defendant’s route around the premises.
Mitigating, Rob Griffiths said: “This is a man of 42, who started using drugs at the age of 11 and is still using them 31 years later.”
Mr Griffiths added that Lyons is “not a man who should be simply written off as a serial offender”.
Recorder Bowes QC said the defendant might be able to access support during his time behind bars and get on the path to overcome addiction.
The judge added: “There may now finally be the opportunity for you to break the pattern of offending, taking other people’s property and going back to prison.”
If you are interested in court and crime news, you might want to join our dedicated Facebook group, which provides updates from across the county. To find out more, click here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel