‘Career burglars’ jailed after crime spree within months of latest prison release

Daniel Stokes and Anthony Jackson, from Bradford, both aged 33, embarked on their latest crime spree within months of being released from lengthy prison sentences yesterday, the pair were each jailed again for five-and-a-half years.

Their offences included night-time burglaries at occupied homes in Horsforth and Huddersfield back in May and the pair also smashed their way into a locked up Co-op store in Menston before stealing thousands of pounds worth of cigarettes in a wheelie bin.

Bradford Crown Court heard the pair got into a house in Hall Lane, Horsforth, and drove away a BMW car worth £14,500.

Stokes, of Findon Terrace, Ravenscliffe, then attacked another property on The Grange, in Horsforth and stole an Audi worth up to £25,000.

Prosecutor Katherine Robinson said the defendants carried out an early hours raid on the home of a 60-year-old man in Holly Grove, Lindley, and stole a Mini worth £5,000. Jackson, of Thackeray Road, Ravenscliffe, also stole property from a Range Rover parked up in Rochdale, but the pair were arrested after a police pursuit involving the Mini which had been stolen in Huddersfield.

Miss Robinson said during the pursuit items such as a pick-axe handle and a wheel-brace were thrown at the police vehicles involved. Jackson, who has almost 150 offences on his record, and Stokes, who has just under 100, both admitted a series of offences including burglary, going equipped for theft, and theft.

Stokes, who had been at the wheel of the Mini, also admitted dangerous driving and driving while disqualified. He was banned from driving for five years and ordered to take an extended test.

Their barristers said they were not professional criminals. The court heard that they had sold on the stolen cars for “peanuts”.