By Repeat offender identified by police after wearing GTFC scarf during burglary
A man who burgled a family’s home as seven children were asleep, was spotted after police watched CCTV images and identified a Grimsby Town scarf that he was using to hide his face.
The Mariners scarf was found at Phillip Keetley’s home, along with the stolen items, Keetley had notched up 95 previous offences.
Keetley, 38, of Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, admitted two offences of burglary, three of fraud, and another of stealing a car.
Hannah Turner, prosecuting, told Hull Crown Court that, at 4.10 am on July 1, a woman spotted a vehicle outside her neighbour’s home, on Tiverton Street, Cleethorpes. The vehicle’s engine was running and on the back seat were items she recognised from her neighbour’s home. She removed the items and noticed two men inside the house.
She shouted at them and called for help from her partner, who notified the police. Both men left, and items were left at the scene. The Ford vehicle was registered to an address in Sidney Street, Cleethorpes, and police attended. The occupier had realised his vehicle had gone missing.
A man was seen on CCTV entering the house at 1.25 am via a rear door while the occupier, the man took a phone and an Xbox, the car keys, and a credit card.
The occupier received notifications that fraud attempts were made at a Jet garage in Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, a search of Keetley’s residence revealed the phone stolen from Sidney Street and the Grimsby Town scarf.
The Sidney Street resident later said that his 17-year-old daughter now took a knife with her to bed as she did not feel safe. “I now feel very insecure within my house,” he said.
“I find myself waking every hour. I have to go downstairs to check the locks and make sure there is nobody in the house. I am anxious for the safety of my own family.”
Keetley had convictions for 95 previous offences dating back to 1999. Saleem Khan, mitigating, said that Keetley committed the offences to fund his crack cocaine addiction.
“This is something that has blighted the defendant for several years now and is part of the struggle he has faced over the years in trying to deal with his addiction,” said Mr. Khan. “His mood was particularly low and that was purely down to him not seeing his daughter. He lost visitation rights.”
A court had changed Keetley’s contact arrangements to telephone only. “It was a huge blow to himself,” said Mr. Khan. “His child is the only positive thing in his life at this time.”
Mr. Khan added: “He gave up on himself, returned to drug use in what he describes as a very heavy way, and hit a downward spiral. His mood became so low that he gave up on everything.
“He now sees this as an opportunity. He is going to try to use his time in custody wisely and straighten himself out. He has reached a crossroads.”
Recorder Ashley Serr told Keetley: “This was no doubt frightening for all concerned. You have an appalling record. You are addicted to drugs and have lost access to your child and that’s caused a downward spiral.”
Keetley was jailed for three years and four months, this included a consecutive eight months after he breached an eight-month suspended prison sentence imposed on June 9 for possessing a knife, theft, and breaching a conditional discharge.
