Helicopter scrambled to burglary

THREE burglars who triggered an alarm system took to the roof of a beauty therapy salon, sparking an emergency alert requiring firefighters and the police helicopter to be dispatched.

The raiders climbed up scaffolding erected for work on the building in Lisbon Square, Leeds, and in through an upstairs window of MYA Cosmetics Ltd.

But while searching the property, they set off an alarm bringing officers to the scene. The three then went onto the roof sparking safety concerns that required fire brigade and ambulance attendance as well as the West Yorkshire police helicopter.

Eventually, Dale Fletcher, Adam Kerr and Jonathan Borthwick were persuaded to give themselves up, Howard Crowson prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court yesterday. It was estimated some 5,000 damage had been caused.

All three were committed for sentence to the court after admitting the burglary on December 4. Fletcher, 21 of Aberdeen Walk, Leeds, was jailed for 18 months with a further 51 weeks brought in to run consecutive from a previously suspended sentence.

Kerr, 21, formerly of Broadlea Grove, Bramley, and Borthwick, 19, of Greenthorpe Hill, Leeds, were both given 18 months' custody. Borthwick asked for nine other burglary offences to be taken into consideration.