‘Prolific’ burglar who stole £2,800 cash from OAP jailed for more than eight years

A “PROLIFIC” burglar whose crime spree included taking jewellery and a safe containing more than £2,800 in cash from an OAP in Balby has been jailed for eight years and four months. 

Lee Barnes (45,) of Washington Road, Woodlands, carried out his spate of offending in February this year, starting on February 13 when he attempted to break into an address on Church Lane, Adwick-le-Street and ending after two days of targeting properties in Balby. 

On February 16, Barnes struck four properties in the Balby area, only gaining access to one. 

His elderly victim discovered the back door wide open and a number of items had been taken from her home, police said.

The following day, February 17, Barnes targeted another elderly victim in Balby, taking items of jewellery and a safe containing £2,860 cash.

Before the incidents in Balby, he had struck a second time on February 13 at Welfare Road, Woodlands.

A resident noticed her neighbour’s door was open despite them being away and went to investigate.

As she arrived, Barnes was fleeing down the stairs and pushed her out of the way to escape, a police spokesperson said.

In the early hours of February 15, Barnes — armed with a knife — broke into a house on Woodlands Road. 

The victim found him taking items from a jewellery box in his daughter’s bedroom and, when confronted, Barnes admitted his crime before pointing the knife towards the victim. 

During a scuffle as he tried to force Barnes to leave the property, the victim suffered a cut to his chest.

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said Barnes was located and arrested by officers after a further review of recent burglaries “identified a series to which Barnes was linked through complex CCTV evidence.” 

Barnes appeared at Sheffield Crown Court last Friday for sentencing after pleading guilty to aggravated burglary, five counts of residential burglary and four counts of attempted burglary. 

He also admitted robbery, seven counts of fraud, assault, possession of an offensive weapon and failing to provide a specimen for a drugs test.

Det Sgt James Wiggins, from Operation Castle — Doncaster’s dedicated response to burglary in the city — said Barnes was one of the first offenders identified and arrested by officers as part of the special operation. 

“This is a fantastic result, both for Barnes’ victims and for the communities in Doncaster which are now free from his prolific offending,” he said.

“Barnes carried out his offending with no regard for his victims, to the point where he entered a property armed with a knife. 

“Discovering Barnes in his daughter’s bedroom must have been a terrifying experience for that victim, and I hope this sentence goes someway to help them move forward and feel safe in their home again.

He added: “Our team of detectives works proactively to target known burglars, identify trends to focus patrols and conducting high quality investigations to secure charges and ensure successful convictions at court.”

“With a further 13 people remanded into custody for burglary offences over the last four months, we are hopeful for more successful results in court in the coming months.”