Prolific Norwich burglar was "too unwell" to attend court

Joel Lawrence, 51, had been given a 16-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, for attempted burglary and going equipped for theft after he was found prowling the Norwich streets with a torch, snippers and gloves.

But just five days after he was spared immediate custody in August, Lawrence was caught shoplifting a quantity of chicken from Tesco in Ipswich Road.

Lawrence, previously of William Kett Close, Norwich, but now of no fixed abode, was due to appear at Norwich Crown Court for sentencing having previously admitted theft at Norwich Magistrates' Court last month.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) But on Monday, Lawrence failed to appear with the court being told he was "too unwell" to attend.

Lawrence, who also faces other matters, including burglary, two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, theft of a pedal cycle and interfering with a motor vehicle, had the case adjourned until October 28 by Recorder Peter Clark.

Joel Lawrence (Image: Norfolk Constabulary) Lawrence has more than 60 previous convictions for more than 150 offences - including 19 burglaries.

He had been caught red handed on Newmarket Road in February after being spotted on video doorbell footage trying doors of homes.

The court was told one of his attempted break-ins had left an eight year old boy too terrified to go to bed on his own and worried about his father while at school.

He was also previously jailed for 45 months in 2021 for breaking into a flat in Mandells Court, near Elm Hill, where a student and her partner were awoken by a noise to see a figure at the end of their bed.

His other burglaries included one at a property in Earlham Road and a burglary at University of East Anglia student accommodation last April.