Leyland burglar who targeted estate was found to have a slingshot

Unusually Dylan Kelly, 19, of Longmeanygate, Leyland, had no convictions when he embarked on his crimes.

Preston Crown Court heard he targeted addresses, sheds and cars on on Great Park Drive and Parish Gardens on Leyland’s Oaks Estate on March 31.

In one case a dad confronted Kelly trying to get into his home at 4am while his seven year-old son was sleeping upstairs.

Prosecuting, David Clarke said: “He shouted at him to get away and said he had CCTV. He says the man was clearly startled and he saw him drop a torch.

“He had been carrying a screwdriver and was wearing a face covering and gloves.”

Kelly stole five pairs of trainers outside a neighbouring property, and when the homeowners mentioned it on social media they found other people were affected, with a man’s shed and a woman’s storage box broken into.

Eight days later he tried to get into a home on Morley Croft, and was confronted by the homeowner opening the front door to see what the rattling was. He was arrested in a neighbour’s garden in possession of a multitool, multihead screwdriver, bike light and slingshot.

Judge Sara Dodd accepted it was out of character, addng: “ You haven’t appeared before the courts before, but last Spring, while the country was in grip of the first lockdown you engaged in a series of offending.

“I accept your remorse, unlike many I see, is genuine - you said you had done wrong and you deserved to be punished.”

The Lancashire Post is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism. For unlimited access to Lancashire news and information online, you can subscribe here.