Burglar carried pint of beer as he raided Leeds flat

A DRUNK burglar was caught on CCTV clutching a pint of beer as he raided his neighbour's flat.

Shaun Benson, 28, was also filmed urinating in the corner of the property after kicking the door down.

Leeds Crown Court heard Benson forced his way into the ground floor flat on Hemingway Garth, Hunslet, on December 17 last year.

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Duncan Ritchie, prosecuting, said the occupant of the flat returned home after the incident and discovered it had been ransacked.

A tracksuit, trainers and a bottle of aftershave had been stolen.

CCTV footage from a communal area of the flats bock was viewed by police and Benson was seen breaking into the property while holding a pint of beer.

Benson, a tenant on one of the upper floors, was recognised by officers and arrested. He pleaded guilty to burglary.

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Benson was out of prison on licence at the time of the offence. The court heard Benson has served prison sentences for robbery offences committed in 2010 and 2015.

He has 32 previous convictions for 74 offences. Stephen Smithson, mitigating, said Benson had been to a party at the flat the previous evening and had gone back the next day to retrieve property he had left there.

Mr Smithson said Benson had been drinking before breaking into the flat. He added: “It was not a very sophisticated offence.”

The lawyer said Benson was making attempts to address his drug and alcohol problems while in custody. Benson was given a six month prison sentence.

Judge Neil Clark told Benson: “It was a mean thing to do. Any kind of burglary of a dwelling house or flat is a serious matter.”