Burglars put mum and tot through terrifying ordeal at Leeds flat

A court heard Ashleigh Chapman and the unknown man spent around 20 minutes forcing their way into the property on Stocks Hill, Holbeck.

Leeds Crown Court heard the two men targeted the flat after spending the day drinking on August 16 this year.

Louise Pryke, prosecuting, said the two men began kicking the entrance door to the property around 9pm as the mother and child were inside.

Miss Pryke said the mother was so frightened that she locked herself in a bedroom with the toddler and shouted for help from the window.

She also used her mobile phone to contact her husband.

Chapman and the other man, who has not been identified, managed to get inside the flat and then began kicking down the bedroom door.

The pair were unable to get into the bedroom so searched other rooms for property to steal.

They left with a laptop but police and the woman’s husband were waiting outside when they tried to leave.

Chapman was caught after a short chase.

Miss Pryke said the mother had seen Chapman and the other man walking up and down outside her home in the days before the incident.

Chapman, 27, of Heights Way, Armley, pleaded guilty to burglary. The court heard he has previous convictions for burglary offences.

Chapman was jailed for three and a half years.

Jayne Cooper, mitigating, said Chapman’s offending was linked to alcohol abuse and he had managed to stop drinking for 18 months.

She said Chapman committed the offence after he started drinking again.

Ms Cooper added: “It was purely a spur of the moment offence and there was no planning.”

Jailing Chapman, judge Geoffrey Marson, QC, said: “I find it incapable of belief that it was on the spur of the moment.

“This is a bad burglary. You kicked your way in and even tried to kick your way into the bedroom in which she had locked herself and her child in.

“It must have been a terrifying experience - and all for a laptop computer.”

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