Trio jailed after aggravated burglary at elderly couple's home in Newcastle
A court heard the couple were threatened during a seven minute ordeal
Three men have been jailed for a total of 28 years between them after targeting an elderly couple at their home in Newcastle.
Newcastle Crown Court heard on the afternoon of August 21, 2023, Lee Kinnell knocked on the door of the couple's property and told the occupants he was selling sunglasses.
He returned to the address overnight alongside Craig Rogers and Lee Justice.
The trio, wearing balaclavas and armed with an “ice-pick” hammer and machete, broke in through a patio door in the garden.
Once inside, they threatened a woman and her husband who had dementia – laughing at him and threatening to behead their family dog.
After a terrifying ordeal spanning around seven-minutes, the group made off with a haul of clothes, jewellery, money and other sentimental items from inside – leaving the victims “traumatised”.
An investigation was immediately launched by Northumbria Police’s Criminal Investigation Department, with all three men arrested and later charged in January 2025 with aggravated burglary.
While Justice, 53, and Kinnell, 44, pleaded guilty to the offence, Rogers, 46, was convicted by a jury in a trial at Newcastle Crown Court in February 2026.
On Friday, March 13, they appeared before the same court where a judge handed them prison sentences.
Rogers was also sentenced for an unrelated offence of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and Justice for unrelated offences of aggravated burglary, violent disorder, and possession of an offensive weapon.
Lee Justice, of York Terrace, Felling, Gateshead, jailed for seven years
Lee Kinnell, of Budleigh Road, Kenton, Newcastle, jailed for six years
Craig Rogers, of Eastgarth, Newbiggin Hall, Newcastle, jailed for 15 years with a further four years on extended licence
In a statement read at the hearing on her behalf, the woman who survived the attack spoke of the lasting impact of the incident. She said: “Despite this incident being around two and a half years ago, I still have regular, terrifying flashbacks to the machetes and the masked men who smashed into my home.”
The court heard how she has “struggled to sleep” since it happened, owing to “nightmares and paranoia at every noise” she hears at night.
The victim also shared on behalf of her husband, saying he is in “bad health” and has suffered heart issues since the burglary, on top of dementia.
She also said the incident has caused a “downturn in his overall health”, and that he regularly discusses “lasting feelings of distress” as a result.
The victim spoke about feeling “torn” on whether to move away or stay at her home after the ordeal. She said: “It felt like our safe place had been ruined by selfish, greedy people who have no care or thought for us in that moment.
“This whole incident has left us both traumatised, when we only look to live a quiet life.”
Speaking after the result, Detective Sergeant Sarah-Jayne Colquhoun of Northumbria Police, said: “This was a shocking and pre-planned attack on an elderly couple – who were subjected to threats and violence by Justice, Kinnell and Rogers.
“What’s worse is that Kinnell had scoped out their home earlier in the day, posing as a shameless bogus salesman, before returning later that night.
“Thanks to collaborative efforts between CID, Forensics and Roads Policing, we were quickly able to link the trio to our investigation and put them before the courts.
“Owing to the extensive evidence gathered, including stolen items recovered and DNA found, they were later all convicted of this horrendous crime.”
DS Colquhoun added: “While no result will ever take away the fear and trauma that has been inflicted on this couple, I do hope they find some comfort in the fact the offenders will be behind bars for a lengthy spell.
“Violence is never acceptable in our communities – and we’ll do all we can to identify perpetrators and make them pay for their actions.”