Man Who Broke Into Sheds In Ely Is Given Work Order

WOULD-be burglar Shane Witt visited three properties in Ely before he was caught red-handed trying to get into a garden shed. Calls to police alerted officers to Witt s behaviour – and he was found fiddling with the lock of a shed in Shirley Walker s gard

WOULD-be burglar Shane Witt visited three properties in Ely before he was caught red-handed trying to get into a garden shed.

Calls to police alerted officers to Witt's behaviour - and he was found fiddling with the lock of a shed in Shirley Walker's garden in Fieldside.

A window had been damaged by being forced, and the lock on the shed had been bent.

"He said he knew paint had been kept in the shed, and he wanted to paint his daughter's bedroom," city magistrates were told by Laura Mardell, prosecuting.

The first call from police came from a woman who saw Witt peering through the peep hole in her front door, and then saw him pacing along a path. Witt asked the woman if she wanted any jobs doing, and left when she said 'no'.

A few minutes later another woman saw Witt in her back garden, and again he asked if she needed help, said Ms Mardell.

"After he left she heard further noises, and saw the defendant at a neighbour's property, he parted the hedge and went into the back garden."

Witt, 34, of Tennyson Place, admitted a charge of attempted burglary.

"This was a ridiculous offence, it occurred because my client had been drinking, he barely recalls it," said solicitor Michael Judkins.

Witt was ordered to carry out 50 hours of unpaid work and pay �25 compensation and �85 costs.