Burglars jailed after being caught on camera at house in Leeds

A PAIR of burglars were caught on camera as they carried out a raid at a house in Leeds, a court heard.

Andrew Milnes and Gemma Dix were jailed over the burglary at the house in Weetwood in which they were disturbed by one of the occupants.

Leeds Crown Court heard the victim was asleep in his bedroom on the afternoon of May 20 when he heard someone enter the house.

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Vincent Blake-Barnard, prosecuting, said the victim thought one of his relatives had come home but found Dix in a bedroom.

The court heard she tried to hide behind a door and called out to Milnes.

The victim saw Milnes in another bedroom. He was wearing gloves and had his face covered with a scarf.

Milnes had been searching through drawers and had placed a jewellery box on a bed.

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The pair fled to a car parked nearby which was driven away by another man.

Around £1,000 worth of damage had been caused during the burglary.

CCTV footage from a neighbouring property showed Milnes and Dix getting into the car.

The vehicle’s registration was traced to the other man. Police went to Dix’s home in Gipton and

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Milnes arrived at the property as officers were speaking to her.

The pair initially denied any involvement in the offence. Milnes claimed he had not been in that area of Leeds at the time and Dix said she had been collecting her children from school.

They were both later picked out by the victim in an identification procedure.

Text messages on their mobile phones revealed they had discussed stolen property.

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Dix, 34, of Amberton Grove, Gipton, and Milnes, of Shakespeare Grange, Burmantofts, both pleaded guilty to burglary shortly before they were due to go on trial.

The court heard they have previous convictions for targeting homes and were “three-strike” burglars.

Stella Hayden, for Milnes, said he carried out the burglary as his benefits had been cut and he had no money. He was jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Michael Miller, for Dix, said his client had agreed to take part after she had lapsed into using crack cocaine. She was jailed for 18 months.

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Recorder David Wilby said: “The public would be appalled, and quite rightly so, if I were to impose a non-custodial sentence.

“People have to know that going in to other people’s houses in circumstances where it is a pre-planned burglary, is serious crime.”