Burglar is jailed for targeting Leeds pensioner

A CRIMINAL who was part of a gang who carried out a targeted burglary at the home of an elderly victim has been jailed for two years, ten months.
Joseph Allen.Joseph Allen.
Joseph Allen.

Joseph Allen and two other men used crowbars to smash their way into the ground floor flat as the 70-year-old man who lived there was out.

Neighbours had seen the gang watching the property on Ninevah Gardens, Holbeck, in the days before the incident on April 16 this year.

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Witnessed contacted police after seeing two of the men smash a bedroom window to get into the house while a third man stood outside keeping watch.

A Police Community Support Worker was sent to the scene and saw the men getting into a black Vauxhall Corsa.

The Corsa was spotted by officers on Geldard Road a short time later but it failed to stop and sped off.

One of the men threw crowbars from the Corsa which struck the police car during the pursuit.

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The Corsa stopped at a garage and the three men got out but Allen was detained at the scene.

A crowbar and items stolen during the burglary were found in the vehilce,

Allen refused to comment during police interview. He pleaded guilty to burglary

At the time of the incident he was subject to a suspended sentence for dangerous driving and handling stolen goods.

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He has previous convictions for robbery, wounding with intent, possessing an offensive weapon, burglary and theft

Richard Reed mitigating, said Allen accepted that a custodial sentence was inevitable.

He said his client had admitted the offence at an early stage.

Mr Reed said: “He tells me they his involvement in this offence was on the spur of the moment.”