Ordered to pay compensation after breaking into allotment sheds '˜to get petrol for his friend's car'

A man has appeared in court on his 20th birthday to face charges of breaking into sheds on an allotment site in Boston.

Paul Lyall, now of no fixed address but formerly of Botolph Street in the town, admitted five burglaries and an offence of going equipped for theft when he appeared at Boston Magistrates’  Court.

Jim Clare, prosecuting, said police were called to the Cuckoo Lane allotments on Wyberton West Road after midnight on September 20 because torchlight could be seen.

The police found three green petrol cans and a generator on the ground by the main gate and inside found Lyall lying on the ground wearing a long coat  with its hood up and his face covered and wearing latex gloves.

Other gloves and batteries were found nearby and tools – a spanner, crowbar and bolt croppers – were also found.

Mr Clare said enquiries revealed that a number of sheds had been broken into and items had been stolen from them.

In mitigation, Roger Lowther said Lyall had been looking for petrol for his friend’s car and had not been stealing for gain.

After hearing from the Probation Service, on Wednesday the magistrates imposed a 12 month community order with 20 days rehabilitation and ordered Lyall to pay a total of £220 in compensation to the allotment holders whose sheds had been broken into.