Trio burgled home of vulnerable elderly couple after earlier ‘recce’

One of the trio, Lee Kinnell, earlier did a ‘recce’, knocking at the door of the earmarked property and telling the occupants he was selling sunglasses.

But his true intentions were later revealed as he returned to the address overnight with associates Craig Rogers and Lee Justice.

The trio, wearing balaclavas and armed with an “ice-pick” hammer and machete, broke their way in through a patio door.

Once inside, they threatened a woman present and her dementia-suffering husband, laughing at him and threatening to behead their family dog.

Following a terrifying seven-minute ordeal, the intruders made off with a haul of clothes, jewellery, money and other sentimental items from the house, leaving the victims “traumatised”.

The trio was arrested and later charged with aggravated burglary.

While Justice, 53, and 44-year-old Kinnell pleaded guilty to the offence, Rogers, 46, denied it. He was convicted by a jury at Newcastle Crown Court in February.

All three appeared back before the same court earlier this month and were all handed prison sentences.

Craig Stephen Rogers, starting 15-year extended sentence (Image: Northumbria Police)

Rogers was also sentenced for an unrelated offence of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, while Justice was also dealt with for unrelated offences of aggravated burglary, violent disorder, and possession of an offensive weapon.

Lee Justice, given a seven-year prison sentence (Image: Northumbria Police)

Justice, of York Terrace, Felling, Gateshead, received a total seven-year prison sentence, while Kinnell, of Budleigh Road, Kenton, Newcastle, was jailed for six years.

Lee Kinnell, who did a ‘recce’ at the targeted property, jailed for six years (Image: Northumbria Police)

Rogers, of Eastgarth, Newbiggin Hall, Newcastle, received a total 15 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by a further four years on extended licence

In a statement read at the hearing on her behalf, the victim who survived the attack spoke of the lasting impact of the incident.

She said: “Despite it being around two and a half years ago, I still have regular, terrifying flashbacks to the machetes and the masked men who smashed into my home.”

The court heard how she has struggled to sleep since it happened, due to “nightmares and paranoia at every noise”, she hears at night.

She also said her husband is in “bad health”, having suffered heart issues since the burglary, as well as having dementia.

Since the incident he has suffered “a downturn in his overall health”, and regularly discusses “lasting feelings of distress”, as a result.

The victim spoke about feeling “torn” as to whether to move away or stay at her home since the ordeal.

She said: “It felt like our safe place had been ruined by selfish, greedy people who have no care or thought for us in that moment.

“This whole incident has left us both traumatised, when we only look to live a quiet life.”

 Speaking following the outcome of the case, Detective Sergeant Sarah-Jayne Colquhoun, of Northumbria Police, said: “This was a shocking and pre-planned attack on an elderly couple who were subjected to threats and violence by Justice, Kinnell and Rogers.

“What’s worse is that Kinnell had scoped out their home earlier in the day, posing as a shameless bogus salesman, before returning later that night.

“Thanks to collaborative efforts between CID, forensics and the Roads Policing Unit, we were quickly able to link the trio to our investigation and put them before the courts.

“Owing to the extensive evidence gathered, including stolen items recovered and DNA found, they were later all convicted of this horrendous crime.

“While no result will ever take away the fear and trauma that has been inflicted on this couple, I do hope they find some comfort in the fact the offenders will be behind bars for a lengthy spell.

“Violence is never acceptable in our communities, and we’ll do all we can to identify perpetrators to make them pay for their actions.”