Burglar confronted by terrified lone Leeds woman in her own home is spared custody
Judge told him: “This is your opportunity”
A burglar who came face-to-face with a lone woman in her own home has avoided custody, despite his lengthy record.
Dylan Armer broke into her home to steal the keys to her car, but did not bank on her working from home.
The 34-year-old was previously jailed in 2021 as part of a gang that using high-tech gadgetry to steal vehicles.
But he was given a suspended sentence this week at Leeds Crown Court for his latest offences, with Judge Christopher Batty telling him it was largely because he had been held on remand since his arrest four months ago.
He told him “This is your opportunity.
“If you had not been locked up you would not be getting this opportunity.
“People who go into people’s house can expect a custodial sentence but you have spent some time inside now.
“You have a number of issues that the probation service can work with in the hope you can turn your life around.”
The female occupant was working at home when she heard a loud bang at around 9.25am on January 21.
She got up to investigate and found Armer stood at her back door. He had smashed the glass and was attempting to grab the keys to her Suzuki Swift.
When he saw her, he tried to force open the door. The panic-stricken woman then closed the door and put her weight against it to prevent Armer from entering.
She then heard the sound of her car being started and driven away.
However, the car was found abandoned near Guiseley less than hour later.
Following his arrest, Armer denied the break-in. However, he admitted using a stolen bank card earlier that month in shops at Cross Gates.
The card owner had received notifications that his card was being used, but had no idea it was missing.
Armer told police he had simply found the card on a bus and had “tried his luck”.
He admitted three counts of fraud, dwelling burglary, theft and assault of an emergency worker after he threw a bag at a police officer when he was being arrested, although he caused no injuries.
Armer, of Abbey Garth, Yeadon, has nine previous convictions for 25 offences.
In 2021 he was part of a gang that used a £20,000 device that looked like a Nintendo Gameboy and could use wireless technology to unlock keyless cars and start their engines.
They stole five Mitsubishi Outlander vehicles over a four-day period. Armer was jailed for 30 months for his role.
A recent probation report into Armer for his latest offending found that he relapsed into drug use again, and that he had “genuine remorse” for the burglary.
The report suggested he was grateful for being remanded into custody to help him address his substance abuse.
Armer appeared in court over a video link from HMP Leeds, where he was being held on remand.
He was given an 18-month sentence, suspended for 18 months.
He was also given a 12-month drug rehabilitation requirement, a mental health treatment requirement, 20 rehabilitation with probation and put on a six-month GPS monitoring trail tag.