Sunderland burglar caught breaking into city centre Poundland store
A burglar failed to make a clean getaway when he and an accomplice broke into a Sunderland city centre store at night to pinch goods, a court heard.
Lee Gorringe, 48, and another man tried to make off with a basket and a bag laden with laundry products from Poundland’s outlet, in Market Square.
Gorringe, of Tower Street, Hendon, was stopped in his tracks just after midnight on Saturday, April 18, prosecutor Glenda Beck said.
A basket containing chocolates was also found in an aisle as was a rucksack with a screwdriver and drill bit.
Gorringe had been out of trouble for eight years but returned to crime after his mental health declined following several deaths in his family.
The burglary was caught on security cameras.
Prosecutor Glenda Beck told South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court she had no information about what had happened to his partner in crime.
She said: ‘“The store was closed on March 17 and 6.30pm and locked and secured.
“The manager was at home on April 18 at 12.15am when he received a call from a monitoring company that the intruder alarm had been activated.
“As a result, the staff member attended the store and noticed a shopping basket filled with items of chocolates.
“There was another basket with laundry items in a different aisle and a bag-for-life with laundry items.
“The manager says that he doesn’t think that the intruders got away with anything before the police arrived.
“There was damage to the front door where they tried to enter. He noticed a rucksack with a hi-vis jacket, a screwdriver, a cap and a drill bit.
“None of those were there before the incident.”
Heather Bolton, defending Gorringe, who pleaded guilty to burglary, said: “As far as this offence is concerned, he was at home with a friend and they had gone outside.
“They don’t go out to plan the burglary. It appears that it’s the other person who attempts to open the doors.
“He does have some mental health issues and he lost his nephew recently.”
District Judge Zoe Passfield adjourned the case for reports and granted Gorringe unconditional bail to be sentenced at the same court on Tuesday May 12.