Prison for burglar over car break-in and theft from Airbnb
SUPERMARKET CCTV HELPS POLICE TO IDENTIFY SERIAL THIEF
A BURGLAR who broke into an Airbnb has been put behind bars after also stealing a man’s bank card and using it to buy booze.
Christopher Kenning was given a suspended sentence at Durham Crown Court in April for burgling an Airbnb holiday home near Durham, last year. The 42-year-old, along with another man, stole a TV set from the holiday home, which was not occupied at the time.
But despite avoiding an immediate prison sentence for the burglary, Kenning went on to commit further offences a month later on May 16, when he broke into a car and stole a man’s bank card. He then went to an Asda in Stanley and bought over £40 worth of booze.
Kenning was hauled back in front of a judge at Durham Crown Court on Wednesday to be sentenced for fraud by false representation, and other minor offences which he admitted during the hearing.
Graham O’Sullivan, prosecuting, said Kenning had stolen the bank card from an unattended vehicle earlier in the day before going to Asda shortly before 8am and using it to buy £42.20 worth of alcohol. He said: “The defendant was identified from the CCTV but denied responsibility, saying he was in bed the whole morning.”
The court heard Kenning had 33 previous convictions for 63 offences, including “numerous” offences of theft. Mr Kenning said that on April 7, he was given a 16 month prison sentence, suspended for two years, for the non-dwelling burglary of the Turnip Barn holiday home in Witton Gilbert, near Durham, on November 23, last year. He was in breach of that suspended sentence when he committed the fraud offence.
Kenning also admitted further minor offences during the hearing, which were also committed on May 16, such as interfering with cars and theft from vehicles. Judge Ray Singh said he would take those into consideration when sentencing him.
Helen Towers, defending, said he had pleaded guilty at an early opportunity and had been homeless around the time of the offences. She said: “Unfortunately, he returned to his previous drug use.” Ms Towers said that Kenning had been working well with services in prison and asked to judge to allow the probation service to work with him in finding accommodation. She added Kenning had also made efforts to comply with two drug rehabilitations tests.
Sentencing Kenning, of Elm Street, South Moor, Stanley, Judge Singh activated part of his suspended sentence and jailed him for 14 months.