Jail for burglar who targeted Leeds students’ homes
Christopher Hall, 27, was handed the lengthy sentence after admitting to a series of 32 house burglaries and car break-ins worth around £23,000.
Hall confessed to the offences in prison while serving a sentence for other offences of burglary.
Hall pleaded guilty to one offence of burglary and asked the court to take 31 similar offences into consideration when he appeared before Leeds Crown Court.
Patrick Gallagher, prosecuting, said Hall broke in to student accommodation on Kelso Road, Burley, during the night of March 19 and 20 last year.
He stole £6,800 worth of electrical equipment including four Apple MacBook computers after forcing the door to the property.
Shortly after the offence he was jailed for unrelated matters but told police about a further set off offences. He admitted 17 other house burglaries and 15 car break-ins.
The court heard there was no forensic evidence linking him them to the crimes but he wanted to “wipe the slate clean”.
Jailing him, judge Geoffrey Marson QC said: “Your record indicates to me that you are a professional career burglar who targets student accommodation. Taking laptops from students is an aggravating feature because work is likely to be on them that is then lost for ever,”
Det Insp Ian Scott, of North West Leeds Division, said: “Christopher Hall is a prolific criminal whose widespread offending has impacted on the lives of many people. I hope the fact that he has received such a lengthy sentence will provide some degree of comfort to his victims and to the wider community.
“Burglary remains the top priority for the police and our partner agencies in Leeds and the courts are supporting these efforts by giving burglars like Hall increased sentences. I hope this will serve as a warning to other burglars who think they can commit offences without having to face serious consequences.”