Serial burglar jailed for Baglan door-testing spree

A prolific offender who went on a door-testing spree across a Baglan neighbourhood, eventually making off with a stolen Volkswagen Golf, has been handed more than five years behind bars.

Lewis Wood, 35, from Bristol Street in Newport, appeared remotely at Swansea Crown Court facing a catalogue of charges stemming from his activities on November 26.

Prosecutor Ieuan Rees explained how a woman on Church Road left her home early that morning to walk her dog, only to discover upon her return that her daughter’s VW Golf had vanished.

Police quickly identified Wood as the culprit and recovered the vehicle from outside his Newport address.

CCTV footage revealed the extent of Wood’s determined efforts that night – he was caught on camera trying door handles at five properties on Maes Rhedyn, two on Lodge Drive, two on Elmwood Road, and one on Glan Hafren. He managed to gain entry to a porch area at one home on Maes Rhedyn and accessed another property on Lodge Drive before successfully stealing the Golf.

When questioned, Wood described himself as a “car thief rather than a burglar”, claiming he was only trying to get hold of a vehicle to drive home.

But Wood’s criminal behaviour wasn’t limited to that November night. The court also heard about a violent incident at the Cedar Tree restaurant in Cardiff Bay on August 11, when Wood attended with four friends. An argument erupted over a drink they’d brought to the premises.

Wood “lunged” at the assistant manager, and when two colleagues intervened to help, he spat in their faces.

The defendant pleaded guilty to three offences of burglary, ten of attempted burglary, three of battery, theft of a motor vehicle, driving whilst disqualified, and driving without insurance.

The court was told Wood has 78 convictions from 22 previous court appearances, including six for burglaries.

Sol Hartley, defending, said Wood had “no recollection” of his actions in Baglan due to his level of intoxication, though he had still entered guilty pleas.

“The reality is he wanted to steal a car to drive home,” Mr Hartley told the court. “He wasn’t seeking to steal a car for financial gain. It’s not as if Mr Wood went out to maximise profit.”

The defence added that Wood had sought support, including counselling, whilst in custody.

Passing sentence, Judge Paul Thomas KC said: “You committed what can only be described as a spate of burglaries and attempted burglaries in Baglan. It seems to me, Mr Wood, the only way to stop you burgling people’s houses is simply to keep you in prison for as long as is appropriate.”

Wood was jailed for a total of five years and three months.