Leeds burglar filmed by smart doorbell trying to enter house in street he was banned from

Gavin McGlinchey was recognised after being filmed by a smart doorbell at the property on Vesper Road, Hawksworth, on two occasions in February this year.

Leeds Crown Court heard the 38-year-old was the subject of a restraining order banning him from entering the street after committing previous offences at another property.

The homeowner was woken by an alert from her smart doorbell in the early hours of February 16.

She checked video footage from the device and saw a man trying the door handle of her home.

The man then went to her car and stole a purse, house keys and sun glasses.

She arranged for the locks to be changed at the property and contacted police.

McGlinchey was arrested after he was recognised on the footage by a police officer.

He pleaded guilty to two offences of attempted burglary, theft from a vehicle and breaching a restraining order.

He has 31 previous convictions, mainly for theft and burglary.

Mark Foley, mitigating, said McGlinchey pleaded guilty to the offences at an early stage.

Read more: Thug threatened to slit woman's throat with knife during neighbour dispute on Leeds streetThe restraining order had been imposed after his client committed a burglary in the same street in 2018.

Mr Foley said the majority of McGlinchey's offending had occurred in the past five years after he lost his job, his home and split up with his partner.

The court heard McGlinchey is a qualified tattooist but had lost everything when he was "swindled" during a venture to establish his own parlour..

Mr Foley said McGlinchey then began using heroin and committed offences to fund his addiction.

Recorder David Brooke QC jailed McGlinchey for two years.

He said: "You were intending to break into the garage but that is little comfort to the homeowner."