WANTED: Worcester burglar who failed to come to court

West Mercia Police has issued an appeal to find Lee Shearer who was supposed to be sentenced for the attempted burglary at Worcester Crown Court today.

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A warrant, not backed for bail, was issued by Judge Nicolas Cartwright after it was requested by prosecutor John Brotherton at what would have been a half hour sentence hearing, had the defendant turned up.

Shearer had previously admitted attempting to enter as a trespasser an address in Droitwich Road, Worcester on July 16 last year. He also admitted attempting to gain access to the Blue Diamond Garden Centre, also in Droitwich Road, on the same date.

The 44-year-old of Packington Court, Droitwich had been due to stand trial for attempted burglary but changed his pleas to guilty when he appeared at Worcester Crown Court last month.

No evidence was offered by the prosecution on a further charge (a not guilty verdict was entered) and a further count was permitted to lie on file until the hearing today.

No details of these counts were discussed in open court but we have previously reported how Shearer was also accused of 'going equipped to steal' by having metal 'S' hooks and bent metal wiring on him on the same day. He was also accused of another attempted domestic burglary.

Shearer has been on an electronically tagged curfew at his home address as part of his bail conditions for the offences. However, his barrister, Joshua Purser, raised concerns that 'there had been some difficulties with the monitoring equipment on the last occasion'. 

Judge Nicolas Cartwright said he had been aware of difficulties with the signal in the Malvern Hills but added: "I'm not sure even there it would affect the curfew electronic monitoring."