Norfolk burglar jailed after leaving DNA-covered gloves at a crime scene
He'll spend more than two years in prison
A burglar from Norfolk who discarded gloves containing his DNA as he left the scene of a crime has been jailed.
Lee Green, 52, of Scarlet Road, Norwich, is starting an 876-day jail term after admitting to a charge of burglary and handling stolen goods at Norwich Crown Court yesterday (Monday 11 November 2024).
He broke into a house in Hall Road, Norwich on 7/8 October 2023 forcing the back door open with a shovel.
The victim said the whole house had been raided, with knives taken from the kitchen and left in different rooms. Among items stolen were a TV, sentimental jewellery, and binoculars.
During an area search, three white gloves were found and forensically tested providing a DNA match to Green.
He was arrested at his home address in Scarlet Road on 29 October 2023 where property from Hall Road was recovered along with other stolen goods including a Chanel bracelet.
Further tests on the knives in Hall Road also placed him at the scene along with CCTV evidence and he was further arrested on 11 January 2024.
Once remanded he was visited in prison by Op Convertor, the unit that further investigates when suspects are believed to be responsible for further, similar crimes.
During this interview when evidence was put to him, he admitted to six further offences which were taken into consideration by the court at sentencing.
These were one burglary dwelling, three burglary other than dwelling, and two thefts of copper cabling which all took place between 25 July 2019 and 16 April 2023.
He was linked forensically to the burglary dwelling by a dropped torch.
"I have been left feeling very vulnerable"
In a personal statement read to the court one victim described how she could no longer sleep at night and felt unsafe in her home.
She said: "Since the burglary I have been left feeling very vulnerable.
"I have always believed I am a strong, independent woman. However, this has all changed due to the burglary.
"This makes me feel like I have lost a part of who I was due to the trauma and changes I have had to make in order to feel safe."
She added she was heartbroken not to be able to pass her parents' rings onto her grandchildren as they had not been recovered.
Duncan Etchells, police staff supervisor for Operation Converter said: “Green was an opportunist burglar and thief.
“He had no regard to the impact his offending had on decent, hard working victims of his crimes.
"It can be seen by the impact statements that he has left a trail of destruction behind him and hopefully now he is behind bars he has the time to consider and empathise with his victims and hopefully he will receive the necessary support for his drug addiction which fuelled these offences.
“Norfolk Police are committed to bringing such offenders to justice for the sake of the victims.”
DC Howard Buckles, said: "I hope this sentence provides some reassurance to victims about how seriously we take this type of offending, To any would-be burglars - we will pursue you and follow up all lines of enquiry to put you before the courts."
As a third-striker – someone who has been convicted of burglary on at least three occasions - Green was handed a mandatory sentence of 876 days, just under two years and five months.