Gloves and a protective suit were found in the car of a burglar who targeted the Penrith homes of pensioners.
John Donakey, 56, pleaded guilty to two offences when he appeared at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court today.
Donakey admitted burglary of a home at Penrith’s Croft Avenue on June 20 with intent to steal, and also burglary of an address at the town’s Maple Drive and theft of a set of binoculars on June 23.
Prosecutor George Shelley told the court Donakey had deliberately targeted the properties. He was found with gloves and a protective suit in his car when arrested, together with the binoculars.
Both victims were present when the offences were committed.
Mr Shelley said the starting point for the criminal conduct was a three-year prison sentence, with a range of two to six years’ custody.
During a previous court hearing, Donakey pleaded guilty to three attempted night time burglaries of other homes in Penrith — two at Clifford Road and one at Maple Drive. All of these were committed on June 22, and Donakey is already awaiting sentence for these.
Magistrates heard Donakey, of Bexhill Gardens, St Helens, had a total of 45 previous offences on his criminal record. Twenty of these crimes were for theft and similar.
Donakey’s case was committed to Carlisle Crown Court, where he is due to be sentenced by a judge on August 26. In the meantime he will remain remanded in custody.
