Burglar stole French bulldog from cancer victim's home, Leeds Crown Court told

A  burglar who stole a French bulldog from a cancer sufferer's home was thwarted when  dropped the dog during a chase, Leeds Crown Court heard.
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Jamie Coleman walked into the grandmother's flat where she was in bed in the living room with the dog on her bed.

Leeds Crown Court was told the dog barked as it ran towards Coleman, who picked it up and put it under his arm before running out of the house.

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Nick Adlington, prosecuting, said the victim's grandson ran after Coleman, who dropped the dog.

Leeds Crown CourtLeeds Crown Court
Leeds Crown Court

The dog ran back to its owner's house during the incident in Cleckheaton just before 11pm on November 15 2019.

Police were called and 32-year-old Coleman, who had been drinking before committing the offence, was arrested the following day.

Mr Adlington said Coleman had been to the woman's home on September 19 last year and had asked the woman's granddaughter a series of questions about the dog.

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The woman saw Coleman the day after that incident and took a photograph of him because she was suspicious.

Mr Adlington said Coleman told police he thought the dog looked lonely and planned to take it out for a walk and give it some biscuits before taking it back to its owner.

Mr Adlington said: "It was deliberate targeting of a vulnerable victim who was recovering from cancer at the time."

Coleman, of Bank Street, Cleckheaton, admitted burglary.

Judge Mushtaq Khokar handed Coleman a 20 month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, plus 30 rehabilitation activity days.

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Judge Khokar said: "It is not a typical burglary when somebody breaks in without the owners being present.

"This was a burglary where the complainant was in the flat. You had made enquiries about the complainant prior to the commission of this offence.

"On this night you have simply barged into the premises and removed the dog.

"Those who own dogs are very attached to their pets. It must have been quite a frightening and terrifying period for the complainant when you took the dog away from that flat.

"Fortunately the removal of the dog from the premises was short lived as you dropped it while you were being chased and the dog went back to its owner."