A teenager has been jailed after being caught red handed breaking into his neighbour’s home while the family were out celebrating a birthday.
Darren Walker, 18, was sent to a young offenders’ institution for two years, five months yesterday after pleading guilty to burglary at the house on Broadlea Avenue, Bramley, on February 10 this year.
Jailing Walker, the Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier, QC, told Walker the Bramley area had the second highest number of incident of burglary in Leeds.
Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday how Walker and another youth had targeted the property after the family who lived there had gone out to celebrate a birthday.
A neighbour saw the pair at the back of the property and challenged them.
Walker claimed one of his relatives lived there and some of his belongings were in the house.
The neighbour told the pair to leave but they returned around ten minutes later.
They climbed into the house through and window and removed a TV screen.
The neighbour contacted the police and Walker was arrested nearby. His accomplice was also arrested, in the back garden of the property.
The court heard it is Walker’s first conviction for burglary.
His first offence was committed when he was just 14.
John Batchelor, for Walker, said his client had pleaded guilty to the offence at the earliest opportunity and had co-operated with police from the outset.
Mr Batchelor said Walker, also of Broadlea Avenue, Bramley, had a partner and young child to look after upon his eventual release from prison.
Judge Collier said: “Burglary causes terrible trouble in this city and, in particular, in Bramley.”