South Shields burglar who ‘planned to use knife’ caught red-handed during police raid

Kyle Brownlee has been locked up after a court convicted him of affray, burglary and carrying two blades.

A South Shields burglar who had a knife hidden in his coat while breaking into a flat has been jailed.

Kyle Brownlee, 26, was caught red-handed inside an empty property on February 18 after carrying out the burglary alongside another man.

When he was arrested, police found clothing, an Xbox controller and a TV remote in his pockets along with a kitchen knife.

At Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Knox warned that although the blade was never used, Brownlee had put himself in a position where the situation could have turned dangerous.

The court heard Brownlee had also committed a separate affray offence in June, where he was found carrying a machete.

The Albany Street East, South Shields man admitted burglary, affray and two counts of possessing a bladed article.

Brownlee, who has 20 previous convictions from 42 offences since 2015, was sentenced to 24 months behind bars.

He was also given a 10-year restraining order against the victims involved in the burglary and affray.

Before sentencing, Brownlee told the court he had taken part in trauma workshops and alcohol and drug programmes while at HMP Durham, saying he was working on addressing his problems.

Judge Knox said the offences were serious but reduced the overall sentence because Brownlee is still a young man and needs the chance to rehabilitate.

Knife crime remains a major concern for many people across Sunderland and the North East.