A man is set to face a judge for sentencing later this month after he admitted burgling a series of commercial businesses, including two of the city’s most well-known late-night eateries. Lee Borda appeared at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on Boxing Day, December 26, following his arrest in connection with a number of incidents on December 23 and December 24, 2024.
Police said the Goodbody’s Café at the corner of Lisson Grove and Mutley Plain suffered a break-in during the early hours of December 23. Staff attended the café at around 6.30am to find the front entrance had been smashed and there was glass on the floor. The register had been emptied of around £250 in bank notes.
CCTV footage revealed a suspect had entered at around 3.50am that morning and took money from the till. The café was left footing a £100 bill after calling out an emergency glazier to repair the damage.
Staff at Jake’s café and takeaway on Regent Street arrived at work at around 6am on December 23 to find the front door had been forced open. Checks of the property revealed a safe – which contained between £400 and £500 – had been removed and opened. Again, checks of CCTV showed a suspect entering the property at around 5.25am that same morning.
Police were also called to a store in Union Street after a member of the public heard doors being kicked in. Officers arrived at Sloggett and Sons store at around 2.30am on December 24, which was Borda’s birthday, to find it had been broken into, the alarm sounding and clear signs that it had been searched. In addition, officer found spots of blood on furniture and the light switch. CCTV from the incident was seized by detectives from Plymouth’s Priority Crime Team.
Goodbody’s, Mutley Plain, was targeted by burglar Lee Borda
(Image: Submitted)
Police were also alerted to a suspected break-in at Shawarma Express on Frankfort Gate on the morning of December 24. Investigators later found the front door was heavily damaged and glass had been broken. Staff at the eatery estimated that between £150 and £200 had been taken from the register.
Investigators were later informed that a break-in had also occurred at Diva’s Nail Bar on Frankfort Gate the same morning, December 24. The suspect had smashed a window, causing around £160 worth of damage, left blood at the scene and taken money from a tin, estimated to be between £200 and £300. In addition a mobile phone had been taken.
Shawarma Express on Frankfort Gate was burgled
(Image: Erin Black/Plymouth Live)
A short while later a man with descriptions matching those from CCTV footage seized from earlier incidents was spotted in the area of the coach station. A number of officers immediately carried out searches of the station and surrounding streets and a short while later Lee Borda was arrested by officers in Cornwall Street. He was found to have two mobile phones on him, including one taken from the nail bar.
Borda – who celebrated his 44th birthday on December 24 – was taken to Charles Cross police station custody suite where he was interviewed by investigators from Plymouth’s Priority Crime Team. He was later charged with a number of offences including burglary of Sloggett and Son’s, burglary of Jake’s Takeaway, burglary of Goodbody’s cafe, burglary of the Shawarama Express and burglary of the Diva nail bar.
Borda, of no fixed abode, indicated a plea of guilty to the offences. Magistrates’ remanded Borda into custody and committed him to Plymouth Crown Court for sentencing on January 23, 2025.
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