Leeds career burglar tried to break into coffee shop and was arrested wearing disguise near to scene of raid on Chinese restaurant
A career burglar caused £1,500 worth of damage when he tried to smash his way into a Leeds coffee shop while it was closed during the coronavirus lockdown.
Kenneth Smith was arrested weeks later as he was leaving the scene of a burglary at a Chinese restaurant in the city wearing a disguise and carrying tools.
Smith was on licence at the time of the offences for similar raids at business premises in the city.
The 41-year-old was returned to prison for 21 months after being found guilty of attempted burglary and going equipped to steal.
Leeds Crown Court heard Smith targeted Coffee on the Crescent, Woodhouse, in the early hours of May 27 this year.
Kristian Cavanagh, prosecuting, said the business was closed down at the time due to the pandemic.
Smith was recognised by police officers from CCTV footage of the incident.
He was arrested on June 18 after police were called to a Chinese restaurant after receiving reports that it was being burgled.
The prosecutor said two men were involved in the burglary. One of them was acting as a look-out.
Officers stopped Smith as he walked behind a gate to the business premises.
He was wearing a woolly hat, two pairs of gloves and was carrying a screwdriver and a torch that was illuminated.
Smith, of Edgware Mount, Harehills, Leeds, was found guilty to the offences after a trial before magistrates.
He has 40 previous convictions for 151 offences.
He was sentenced to two years in prison in 2019 for house burglary and was out on licence at the time of the incident.
The court heard he has previous convictions for breaking into restaurants, takeaways and pubs in order to steal cash from tills.
Satpal Roth Sharma, mitigating, said Smith has a criminal record dating back to when he was a youth.
She added: "He has not had many chances to break the cycle."
The barrister said Smith had been in custody since June 30.
Smith was jailed for 21 months.
Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said: "It is perfectly clear to me that these were two planned burglary expeditions.
"They may not have been the most sophisticated offences but they are aggravated by the fact that you were on licence at the time.
"It was during the pandemic and you have a dreadful record.
"There really is no mitigation here."