Burglar stole prison officer's uniform and PCSO's radio from house in Leeds

A burglar stole a prison officer's uniform and a police community support officer's radio during a raid at a house in Leeds.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Lee Birch was locked up for two years and four months over the burglary at the property in Horsforth.

Leeds Crown Court heard the house is shared by a prison officer and a PCSO.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Birch got into the property through an unlocked back door shortly after 6am on December 18 last year.

Lee Birch was jailed for two years and four months for burgling the home of prison officer and a PCSO.Lee Birch was jailed for two years and four months for burgling the home of prison officer and a PCSO.
Lee Birch was jailed for two years and four months for burgling the home of prison officer and a PCSO.

The defendant stole a PlayStation, an Xbox controller and keys to a Volkswagen Golf and a Honda Civic.

Birch also stole a West Yorkshire Police radio and a mobile phone which belonged to the PCSO along with his bank cards and cash.

A work jacket belonging the the prison officer with an Her Majesty's Prison Service emblem was also stolen and his lap top computer worth £1,350.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Birch was identified as the culprit when his fingerprint was found on a soundbar speaker in the property.

He was arrested at his then home on Haigh Wood Road, Tinshill.

The mobile phone and prison service jacket were found when the property was searched.

Birch, now of Luxor Avenue, Harehills, pleaded guilty to burglary.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He has 43 previous convictions for 165 offences dating back to when he was a child.

Stephen Welford, mitigating, said Birch committed the offence after returning to taking Class A drugs after splitting up with his partner.