Burglar caught in Leeds resident's garage after hospital discharge is jailed
Opportunist thief tried to break into homes on his way home from hospital.
A known burglar tried to break into several homes just after being discharged from hospital.
Wayne Clapshaw was jailed at Leeds Crown Court this week after admitting burglary and attempted burglary.
The 53-year-old appeared over a video link from HMP Leeds, where he was being held on remand.
Between 2.30am and 3am he had been walking along St Anne’s Drive in Burley when he tried the door handle to an address.
Finding it locked, he then walked across the street and tried another front door, again finding it locked.
Clapshaw then tried the window to the property’s garage, which he was able to open, so he climbed through.
Watched by a witness who dialled 999, he was still in the garage when the police arrived.
Clapshaw, of Crosby Place, Holbeck, gave a no-comment interview at the station following his arrest.
Prosecutor Esther Bukoye said Clapshaw was subject to the third-strike rule, meaning he must be jailed because of his previous burglary offences.
Mitigating, Tonicha Allen said Clapshaw suffered from fits due to a previous head injury, had been hospital that night and was returning home.
She said the burglaries were “opportunistic” and that he “accepted his behaviour was unacceptable”.
Judge Neil Clark jailed him for 10 months.