Legal representatives for George Atkinson, 31, said he has suffered from drug addiction for much of his life, and that he ‘doesn’t recall’ his May 11 Hull crime spree
A seasoned criminal who embarked on a lengthy crime spree just over an hour after he was released from custody claimed he couldn’t remember a single one of his alleged early morning offences.
George Atkinson, a “third strike” burglar, was released from custody on remand at midnight on May 11, and was already breaking into the home of a family of four by 1.10am. Hull Crown Court heard the 31-year-old, of Colenso Street, Hull, left a mother and her three children “extremely anxious” following the break-in of their Garden Village home, but that their home was just one of several on what was eventually a lengthy “catalogue” of crimes he carried out in a single night.
The Hull Daily Mail reports the court heard that Atkinson, who has a history of drug addiction, tried breaking into other homes, and stole and fraudulently used bank cards.
He admitted burglary, four offences of attempted burglary, four offences of theft and three offences of fraud, all committed on May 11. He asked for another offence of attempted burglary to be considered.
The court heard that Atkinson also had 29 previous convictions for offences, and that he was a “third-strike” burglar.
But mitigating for Atkinson, his solicitor Hannah Turner said her client extraordinarily claimed that he had no memory of the crimes, which she said were all committed in the same night.
She said he “doesn’t recall any of the events”, adding Atkinson has suffered from chronic drug additction, specifically to crack cocaine, for most of his life.
She said: “He has been taking crack cocaine and heroin for much of his life. He has spent much of the last 10 years in and out of custody.”
Ms Turner added that, now in custody, Atkinson appears to be making progress, adding that he is hopeful he can make progress on his drug addiction.
She said: “It appears that he is doing rather well in custody. He is drug-free. He is hoping that, this time around, he can make progress on his drug addiction. He has been recalled on his previous six-year sentence until June 2028. He is working in the kitchens while in custody.”
Atkinson was jailed for five years for what Judge John Thackray KC summarised as a “catalogue of offending”.
He said: “This catalogue of offending occurred after you had been released on police bail at about midnight on May 11.
“You were at the time subject to licence and you were subject to a community order, the magistrates having given you a golden opportunity, despite further offences, to rehabilitate yourself. You have a bad record.”