Boxing Day burglars stole cars worth more than £100,000 after breaking into house in Leeds village

Matthew Richardson and Ashley Roberts were locked up for a total of more than six years over the break-in at the house in East Keswick in the early hours of December 26 last year.

The pair stole keys from inside the property before driving off in Mercedes and Volvo cars.

Leeds Crown Court heard the vehicles were worth a total of £103,000.

Richardson, 35, and Roberts, 28, also stole two electric bikes, worth around £8,000, from the driveway.

Richardson was jailed for four years and Roberts was jailed for two years and eight-and-a-half months.

The victim did not realise that the house had been burgled until he woke up the following morning.

Mr Robertshaw said the Volvo had been fitted with a tracker.

The vehicle was traced near to Richardson's home on Wykebeck Avenue, Osmondthorpe, Leeds.

It was badly damaged and attempts had been made to remove the tracker.

The Mercedes was found from close to Roberts' home on Colwyn Road, Beeston, Leeds.

Roberts was arrested shortly afterwards and found hiding in a divan bed.

The key to the stolen Volvo was found in his house. The bikes have not been not recovered.

In a statement, the victim said his relationship with his partner has been affected by the burglary.

Roberts pleaded guilty to burglary and three counts of theft.

Richardson was convicted of the same charges after a trial.

Roberts also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

He admitted a further charge possessing an offensive weapon in relation to an incident on October 6 last year.

The court heard Roberts brought a baseball bat to a street fight on Woodview Terrace in Beeston.

Sean Smith, mitigating for Richardson, said his client has alcohol and drug issues and got involved in the offending to fund them.

Michael Walsh, for Roberts, said his client has mental health issues.

Roberts was also disqualified from driving for a year.