Leeds burglar who raided chip shop, nursing home and doctors' surgery claimed he was set up
A burglar who targeted a nursing home, a doctors’ surgery and a chip shop later claimed he was set up by a man he knew.
John Cairns who has multiple burglaries on his record, was jailed at Leeds Crown Court after admitting a string of offences.
The 34-year-old had first kicked his way into Pages Fisheries on Baghill Lane, Pontefract, on July 5, 2024.
Kicking in the rear door, he took £55 from the till and a bank card, He also damaged the CCTV inside the shop.
At 1.30am he then tried to use the bank card at a nearby Shell garage to buy cigarettes.
He was later recognised and arrested. He was told that ID documents belonging to him were left at the chip shop, but he denied the offence and said the documents must have been planted by a man he knows.
He also said he found the bank card.
On August 24, 2024, he gained entry to Acre Green Nursing Home in Middleton in the early hours, snatching keys to a Citroen van parked outside, which he then drove away.
It was found parked on Westfield Road a short time later with Cairns still sat in the driver’s seat.
Arrested again, he denied burglary and stealing the van, claiming he had bought it from a friend.
Finally, on June 3, 2025, he burgled Lingwell Croft Surgery in Middleton. He was in the surgery at 10am, but let himself into a staff-only area and stole a phone and a box of co-codamol.
He was once again arrested but denied it was him on the CCTV, then refused to take part in an ID parade.
Cairns, of Manor Farm Road, Cross Green, admitted three counts of burglary, one of theft and one of fraud by false representation. He appeared in court via video link from HMP Humber, where he was already serving a sentence for burglary.
Mitigating, Lily Wildman said he had entered early guilty pleas.
She said he grew up in care and has been diagnosed with PTSD due to his experiences in the care system.
She said he would take cocaine and drink as his “every-day coping mechanism”.
Judge Kate Rayfield gave him an additional 12 months to his existing 38-month jail sentence.