'One-man crime wave' who was released on licence 'threw it straight back in the court's face'

A prolific burglar who was jailed in March for 18 months was released on licence and committed another burglary just months later.

Declan Kelly, 30, of Tivoli Gardens, Grimsby admitted burglary and theft when he stole a Ford Transit van from a shopkeeper on Grimsby's West Marsh. At Grimsby Crown Court, he also admitted having no insurance when he drove the van and being a disqualified driver from a 33-month ban he received in March.

Recorder Peter Makepeace KC said the opportunity to be released on licence had been "thrown straight back in the court's face."

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"It is precisely the sort of thing the public are heartily fed up with," he said. He added: "The only way you can show remorse is to stop offending."

He highlighted Kelly's appalling previous record of burglary. Kelly burgled five homes in one night and stole birthday presents and vital medical equipment from a family home in Duke Street in 2020. For those offences, for which he was branded "a one-man crimewave" he was jailed for four years.

His first offence was in 2009 of a non-dwelling and three more non-dwelling burglaries in 2015. In March this year, he was jailed for 18 months for dangerous driving following an 80mph police pursuit through Grimsby town centre, where two bollards were toppled.

There were three females in the car, which was brought to a halt in a police containment move on Cleethorpe Road. The driver ran off but was arrested a few days later.

In relations to the latest incident, prosecutor Jazmine Lee told how the shopkeeper was asleep in his bed from midnight on July 15. When he awoke at 7.30am, he saw all his kitchen cupboards had been opened and the kitchen window forced open. Keys to his van, kept in a drawer, were missing.

He checked CCTV from his store on Macaulay Street which showed a man coming out of his house and driving off in the Ford Transit van.

The CCTV was shown to police and PC Clark identified Kelly. He was later arrested and the Transit van was recovered.

Miss Lee, listed the defendant's previous offences and told there had been a "clear level of planning" in the latest burglary.

He was a banned driver until 2026, she said. For Kelly, Tim Savage said: "He was clearly seeking to feed his drug addiction. He expresses remorse and has had a difficult and deprived background."

Recorder Makepeace KC said the fact the burglary and theft were committed while he was on licence for the previous offences was "a serious aggravating feature."

He warned Kelly to stop offending otherwise he would be back in Hull prison for the rest of his life. He jailed him for two years and three months. He was banned from driving for three years. No separate penalty was imposed for the lack of insurance.