Former soldier burgled own mum's Leeds home in search of cash
Former forces man’s life spiralled into drug use
An ex soldier burgled his own mother’s home to steal cash, but has avoided being locked up.
Lee Goodwin broke into the property in Horsforth.
The 40-year-old appeared at Leeds Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to a single count of dwelling-house burglary.
The court was told that his mother had gone to bed around midnight on November 15 last year.
When she later got up and went downstairs, she found a garden tool had been used to open a window.
Hundreds in cash was missing, along with cigarettes and a car key, although the vehicle was still outside.
Mitigating, Celine Kart said the inevitable prison sentence could be suspended, given Goodwin’s lack of previous convictions, suggesting rehabilitation could be carried out in the community.
She said the father-of-five, of Barden Place, Armley, had been in a long-term relationship that had broken down, and his life “began to spiral”.
He began using drugs and “lost his stability”. She said he had been in the Army from the age of 17 to 25, had worked as a labourer and scaffolder and was now looking for work again.
Ms Kart described his relationship with his mother as “fractured”, prior to the burglary.
The judge, Recorder Richard Wright told Goodwin: “It’s very sad to see somebody of your age and lack of previous convictions appearing in court for something as serious as a dwelling-house burglary.
“The fact it was your own mother, you went there at night to steal money that you knew would be there. It’s a mean offence.
“I hope you can, in due course, repair any relationship with your mother.”
Due to Goodwin’s age and lack of previous convictions, plus his early guilty plea, he gave him a 12-month sentence, suspended for 12 months.
He also ordered he complete 100 hours of unpaid work.