Born again Christian burglar admits he deserved to have rib broken by Leeds homeowner who hit him with baseball bat

A burglar suffered a broken rib after being hit with a baseball bat by a homeowner who caught him trying to break into his house in Leeds.

Mark Baber admitted he deserved the beating after he "screwed up" and returned to a life of crime to fund his drug habit.

The 57-year-old offender told a court: "He hit me with a baseball bat and broke my rib. I agree totally with what he did.

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"He was just protecting his home. There is nothing wrong with that."

Mark Baber was hit with a baseball bat by a homeowner who caught him trying to burgle his home on Cockshott Lane, Armley.Mark Baber was hit with a baseball bat by a homeowner who caught him trying to burgle his home on Cockshott Lane, Armley.
Mark Baber was hit with a baseball bat by a homeowner who caught him trying to burgle his home on Cockshott Lane, Armley.

Baber told a judge at Leeds Crown Court how he had managed to stay out of trouble for seven years before committing the offence after becoming an artist and a born again Christian.

Baber pleaded guilty to attempted burglary after he was caught red-handed by the victim as he tried to get into his home on Cockshott Lane, Armley, on April 7 this year.

Bashir Ahmed, prosecuting, said the homeowner's daughter saw Baber acting suspiciously near cars in the street at 4am.

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The man then checked his CCTV camera and saw Baber climbing over the fence at the rear of the property and trying the door handle to his home.

Mr Ahmed said: "Once that had occurred, the occupier decided to arm himself with a baseball and open the door."

Baber went back to the fence and started to climb over.

The homeowner asked Baber what he was doing and he claimed he "had got the wrong house."

The prosecutor added: "He went over the fence and tried to get away. He didn't get very far."

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Mr Ahmed said Baber was then "restrained" while police arrived.

Baber was searched and found in possession of a broken scooter handle.

He was interviewed about the incident and said he had committed the offence after taking his antidepressant medication.

Mr Ahmed said: "He said that the tablets he took made him want to go out robbing."

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Baber, of Wyther Park View, Armley, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary.

Ismael Uddin, mitigating, said Baber had been a heroin user for many years but managed to stay out of trouble for seven years leading up to the offence.

Mr Uddin said Baber pleaded guilty to the offence at the earliest opportunity.

He added: "It appears that some natural justice was meted out to my client."

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Judge Geoffrey Marson QC asked Baber what he had been doing for seven years to stay out of trouble.

Baber, who appeared in court via video link from prison, replied: "I became a born again Christian in my mid forties. Once you get God in your life you never get him out.

"I tried to grow up and be a man, which I haven't been in the past.

"I don't know how I have messed up so bad. I just got pulled back in again.

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"Not much was happening in my life. I had a bit of a c****y life."

Baber said he tried to be an artist and painter and initially had some success.

He said: "I was making a bit of a living but it didn't last long. It just fell apart at the seams."

Baber said he wanted to say sorry to the homeowner and that he deserved the injury he received during the incident.

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The defendant said: "I haven't committed a burglary for years.

"I didn't go prepared. I just screwed up.

"He hit me with a baseball bat and broke my rib. I agree totally with what he did.

"He was just protecting his home. There is nothing wrong with that."

Baber was given an 18-month sentence, suspended for two years.

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He must also take part in a 12-month drug rehabilitation programme.

The judge told him: "For the next two years, if you commit any offence - even dropping litter - you will come back to me and you will go to prison, and it will be for a very long time."