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‘Public enemy no. 1’ locked up
A criminal described as “public enemy number one” by a police inspector has been put behind bars.
Lee Cole, 21, of Birch Court, Rushden, was sentenced to two years in prison at Northampton Crown Court on Friday.
He carried out a crime spree in the area between the beginning of 2009 and the end of 2010, committing 45 offences in total.
Inspector Vaughan Clarke, East Northamptonshire sector commander, said: “I am delighted that this individual has been taken out of the community.
“He was causing a lot of harm and his conviction is the result of many hours of police work which was focused on him.
“I considered him my public enemy number one because I knew from intelligence how much crime he was involved in.
“This is part of the ongoing operation, Operation Guardian, and the message that I would like to give to any other people involved in similar crimes is that we are looking at you.”
Cole’s latest offence, for which he was arrested, was in Portland Road, Rushden, on October 11.
He broke into a house, forcing open the front door, and stole a 32in television and PlayStation 3 games console.
He was spotted by an off-duty police officer, who saw him carrying the equipment towards Birch Court.
The officer followed him before announcing he was a policeman. Cole fled the scene but was later arrested at his home.
Defending, Saoirse Townshend said: “He admits he has had a very troubled past with the law, particularly with dwelling burglaries, and is sorry for this.”
Cole’s previous offences include 33 house burglaries and several thefts of motor vehicles.
Sentencing him, Judge Lynn Tayton QC said: “You have been before the court on a number of occasions and have now pleaded guilty to another offence.
“You have asked me to take into account 44 other offences which I shall do.
“I am obviously going to have to sentence you to a period of custody.”
Cole had spent 14 months in a young offenders institute in 2007 for a previous burglary.
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Comments
There are 14 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
t9alizee
Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 08:49 AMPending Moderation
pepsi
Friday, November 18, 2011 at 07:54 PMHoldtight Lee, will be the last words he will hear most nights for the next to years.
iamyourmaster
Friday, November 18, 2011 at 01:49 PMNot Lee 'Battyman' Cole? Prison won't even be punishment for him, in the immortal words of Spinal Tap it'll be a 'Sex Farm'.
slim.tingz
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 05:14 PMThank god this monstor is neeo off the streetz evon if it is anny fo' a short space ov time.
AllenMunro
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 04:22 PMburglary ranks amongst the lowest form. I was burgled twice many years ago and to this date I still jump up from sleep at the slightest unusual noise so I sympathies with everyone who have had this terrible crime inflicted on them and believe the sentences do not reflect the crime.
@ngel**
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 04:16 PMWhat a horrible little scrote... yet he was able to make a previous 44 offenses before being sentenced again? British Justice system...you are truely amazing...
numbnuts
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 11:48 AMSimonB "You couldn't lay a finger on Lee without getting your jaw taken off" So what you're saying is if he's on someones property and they hit him, he WILL attack back . Fair enough, then the only way is make sure he can't get up again. There has been a couple of burglars that won't do it again. Thanks for heads up.
Pete Clark
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 07:47 AMCongratulations to the local police on a job well done. This guy is a menace to society. I would particularly like to recognise the excellent work done by the off-duty officer who presumably didn't have his police radio or other protective gear and yet was prepared to put himself at risk in order to protect the rest of us from this low-life. You certainly have my thanks
the-special-one
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 01:06 AMflump007, Sorry hear your one of his victims, The whole "crime doesnt pay" theory is totally out the window when after commiting 33 house burgalaries (that we know of) he only gets 2 years, 2 years for all that and who knows what the value of the stuff he must of sold on was worth, He'll not even be in for the full 2 years either, He's too thick to know what he puts the victim through, The only way they'd see is if it happened to there family or themselves when there older, The stupid thing is and in my opinion one of the reaons i have 0 confidence in the Northamptonshire police force is naming him "public enemy number one" Imagine being a criminal and the police giving you a knickname like that - Sounds to me like it would encourage him more than deter him. The criminal law should be changed, Tell them if you break into someones house, no matter if there in, or away, no matter how much or little you take - for just breaking in - you'll get a 5 year prison sentence, - no let offs for good behaviour, Our justice system is far too easy, In islamic countries - somoene steals a chocolate bar - they get there hand chopped off, Its not a coincidence that stealing in them countries hardly ever happens, I feel for his victims and any other victims of theft, You go out and work hard to earn so that you can get what you want and then some scumbags think they have the right to come along and take it off you, I just hope that one day the law would give these people proper punishment rather than little punishment that is more of an insult to say wrecking someones life is worth just 2 years,
flump007
Monday, November 14, 2011 at 05:22 PMThis piece of lowlife broke into my house last year....i still cant sleep well,i have panic attacks every so often,i am suspicious of every youth i see.Not only was my house burgled but my car was stolen of which i saved hard to buy.Do they realise what they put victims through ? no and they dont care ! 2 years isnt enough in my opinion for what meand my family went through.And like the special one said,it is uncomfortable knowing somebody has riffled through your personal belongings,seen pictures of you and your family.Put the scumbags in the army not prison,lets see if they re-offend again !
the-special-one
Monday, November 14, 2011 at 05:06 PMSimon - There is nobody i cant lay a finger on, Nobody is unbeatable thats just muppets talking. Reputations do not bother me in anyway, If anyone was in my house when they shouldnt be i'd dispatch them with ease, Im sure there are plenty of others out there who could too being as some people use there fists, some people use sports bats etc, some people use illegal weapons and stuff, So less of the nobody could get near him nonsense. Stupid thuggery talk, Besides "hold tight lee" haha if he was the hardman you claim he wont need to hold tight will he as he'll not be used as a backdoor boy inside.
Mrk
Monday, November 14, 2011 at 02:41 PMHe committed "45 offences in total which includes 33 house burglaries and several thefts of motor vehicles". Why did he only get 2 years!!? I don't think there are many that will disagree with me that he should have received a minimum of 5 years so to give him time to think about the poor people that have had their hard earnt belonging stolen and space invaded by some scum-bag that will quite possibly be back on the streets within 9 months doing the very same thing again. The courts needs to be very tough on burglary imo as it has the potential for someone to loose their life now that the CPS has relaxed the laws on killing someone who trying to break into your home.if they are armed.
SimonB
Monday, November 14, 2011 at 02:17 PMthe-special-one, are you dumb? You couldn't lay a finger on Lee without getting your jaw taken off, Holdtight Lee, didn't really know you, but you knew my bro.
the-special-one
Monday, November 14, 2011 at 12:41 PMIf i caught this joker breaking into my house he wouldnt have the chance to go to prison anyhow, I dont get why some people dont just look at it like - this is my house - i didnt invite you into my house - and do whats needed, Nobody has the right to come into your property without being invited in so if a theif is on your property you should be aloud to do anything you want to them without fearing being sent to prison yourself. Common sense really but again those government bellends dont agree and think its okay for someone to feel uncomfortable in there own home knowing some skank has been through all there stuff.
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