Judge jails burglar who went back for more

Leeds Crown Court heard Gary Paul David Cooper was disturbed by the occupier’s son on his first trip into the flat above an off licence in Leeds Road, Dewsbury.

He fled empty-handed from the 85-year-old’s bedroom after being struck with a walking stick by her son, who even threatened to sue him, said Mehran Nassiri, prosecuting.

Then as he ran out through the off licence, Cooper stole £55, pushing the pensioner aside as he did so.

The following day, on October 2, the same man was disturbed in his adjoining flat to his mother’s and went downstairs to the off licence where he found Cooper in the store room.

Police were informed about the burglary and an alert neighbour had also taken photos of Cooper acting suspiciously in the area.

An officer who spoke to Cooper that morning was told he was on his way to a family lunch but later recognised him from the neighbour’s photos.

When he was arrested on October 5, a bank card belonging to another pensioner aged 78 was found at his home which turned out to have been taken in another burglary.

Mr Nassiri said by then Cooper had also been seen stealing copper piping from an unoccupied address in Preston Street, Dewsbury.

Cooper, 26, of Bank View, Earlsheaton, admitted the burglaries. The court heard because of previous convictions he was a three-strike burglar liable for a minimum sentence.

After the case, Pc John Watson, who recognised Cooper from the photos, said: “We take burglary extremely seriously, especially when they involve elderly and vulnerable victims because of the long-lasting impact offences can have.”

Detective Inspector Andy White said the neighbour’s actions showed the importance of local community information.