An Isle of Wight man who attempted to break into an East Cowes supermarket using a storm drain cover has admitted attempted burglary.
Damon Wilkins, 24, now of Merridale Road in Southampton, pleaded guilty to attempt burglary other than dwelling with intent to steal when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Friday (2nd June).
Prosecuting, Liz Miller told the court that at around 01:31 on 17th May Police received several calls stating that they had seen someone attempting to break into the Co-op store on York Avenue.
Upon arrival, officers noticed that there was a storm drain cover outside the door. It was quickly ascertained that this was used in attempts to gain entry with damage caused to the main door of the supermarket. It was estimated that this damage was around £1,000.
It didn’t take long for officers to find and identify Wilkins with the 24-year-old saying ‘yeah that was me’ when he was arrested, before admitting that he was attempting to break in to steal some alcohol.
Wilkins has appeared on Island Echo before, back in June 2022, after he was found guilty of breaking into the shop at Northwood Garage to get some cigarettes because he was ‘bored’.
Defending, Oscar Vincent said that his client suffered with severe learning difficulties and that as a result of this, was prone to making impulsive decisions.
The case was adjourned and will next be heard at Southampton Magistrates Court on 7th June where Wilkins is already set to appear for sentencing on a number of unrelated matters.
Needs putting down. Humans are not an endangered species and we have plenty of others who are a use to society.
The boy coz he is mentally a boy has one the rarest types of autism and you can clearly see he has a leavening difficulty, would you put a Down syndrome down if they acted out ? Are we in medieval times? Maybe we are now. Especially with small minded comments like yourself. Problem with this community and always has been is the judgemental people on this island with no outside world knowledge, if you have the balls to leave your real name please do
Don’t be putting people with autism in the same camp as this thug. It demeans them all.
Violent is a better word.
10/10 for innovation! Never heard of a drain cover being used as a tool before. Must have taken some doing.
It’s a shame the national service was done away with, because shit like this should be made join it. Let’s see how bored he is then. Bloody waste of space
the man has “severe learning difficulties” and probably wouldn’t be a great asset to the army
Well he had no difficulty learning how to get a drain cover off to smash the shop window with did he or breaking into Northwood Garage?
Obviously a misunderstood genius and would thrive in an army environment. Window breaking is a must have skill in the army.
He’d make grt cannon fodder…
And you would make grt cattel fodder
Impulsive is deciding, on a whim, to have a takeaway This is thuggish…. Learning difficulties is no excuse.