Judge jails "prolific" Northampton thief for two years after police bid to force him to go straight fails

Lee Robins, 39, admits breaking into garage in town two months after being freed
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A prolific thief is back in jail after a bid to make him go straight lasted less than two months.

Lee Robert Robins, 39, was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting breaking into a residential garage in Northampton at the end of May.

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But Northampton Crown Court heard Robins, of no fixed address, had only been issued with an anti-social behaviour injunction after he was released from prison in March in a bid to stop his history of stealing.

Detective Constable Rebecca Woolliscroft of the Northamptonshire Police Burglary Team, who led on this investigation, said: “Robins is a persistent acquisitive crime offender therefore this sentence marks another small victory in the Force's efforts to reduce victims of crime and make the county a safer place to live.

“Despite initially pleading not guilty and storming out of his initial hearing, Robins had no choice but to alter his plea to guilty due to the weight of evidence against him.

"We are pleased he has been taken off our streets for two years.”

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Robins, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to breaking into a residential garage in Ashburnham Road on May 28.

Lee Robins, 39, was jailed for two years at Northampton Crown Court. Photo: Northamptonshire PoliceLee Robins, 39, was jailed for two years at Northampton Crown Court. Photo: Northamptonshire Police
Lee Robins, 39, was jailed for two years at Northampton Crown Court. Photo: Northamptonshire Police

He forced open the rear door to the detached garage but was caught inside and swiftly arrested.

Robins’ previous behaviour was so prolific that Northamptonshire Police’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team in partnership with the probation service and other partners, successfully applied for a civil injunction to help safeguard the public from his offending.

On March 23, a two-year ASBI was granted under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. However Robins started to re-offend after just a short time out of jail.

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Police Anti-Social Behaviour Sergeant, Wyn Hughes, said: “The civil injunction was obtained to both safeguard the public and as an initiative, for Robins to reflect on the harm he was causing the community.

“It was also intended to encourage his participation with the probation service to divert him away from crime.

"However, after only a short period out of prison, he re-offended and breached the conditions of his injunction on two occasions.”