A Teesside man faces prison after threatening a homeowner with a toy gun during a botched burglary
Teesside: So, there was this guy named Lewis Dawson who got into some serious trouble. He was with a couple of mates trying to steal bikes from a shed.
Things went south when the homeowner spotted him. She called out his name, and that’s when he pulled out a toy gun and pointed it at her, telling her to get back inside.
This all happened in the early hours of September 12, 2023. The family was so shaken up that they had to leave their home for good.
Later, Dawson got caught trying to steal an e-bike in Redcar town center. He was using an angle grinder to cut the chain when the police nabbed him.
In court, he admitted to having the imitation firearm, affray, and attempted theft. His lawyer said he acted with ‘horrendous stupidity’ bringing a toy gun to a burglary.
It’s pretty wild to think about it—who takes a toy gun to a crime? The judge wasn’t having it either. She sentenced him to three years and six months in prison.
She pointed out that this was a planned attack, especially since they were wearing balaclavas. Dawson also got a seven-year restraining order to keep away from the family.
