Gang members who targeted 'affluent' homes in Leeds jailed over £10,000 raid where cash, jewellery and wedding rings were stolen from house in Alwoodley

Four people were involved in the raid on the property on Nursery Lane, Alwoodley, on July 21 this year.

Leeds Crown Court heard Joseph McDonagh knocked on the door of the house at 1pm and offered to clean the driveway when he spoke to the homeowner.

The woman asked him to leave and he walked away.

Louise Reevell, prosecuting, said another resident in the street described how McDonagh appeared to be "eyeing up " other properties in the street.

The woman left her home later that day but when she returned was unable to get back inside.

The prosecutor said an exercise bike had been wedged up against the door and two men were inside the house.

One member of the gang was heard to shout 'go, go, go' before the vehicle sped off.

A witness made a note of the registration number and it was reported to the police.

Ms Reevell said the house had been ransacked .

Sentimental jewellery including wedding rings were taken along with cash.

Police saw two men and two women in the vehicle later that day on Stanningley Road.

The two men ran off but the women, Mary Maughan and Kelsey Kitchingman, stayed in the vehicle and were arrested.

Officers chased the two men who dropped some of the stolen jewellery onto the road as they fled.

A rucksack from the burglary was recovered and contained screwdrivers which the burglars took with them to commit the offence.

McDonagh was found hiding in a shed on Rossefield Avenue, Bramley.

The other man managed to get away and has not been identified.

McDonagh, 33, of Throstle Terrace, Middleton; Maughan, 26, Cardinal Avenue, Beeston, and Kitchingman, 24, of Bismarck Street, Beeston, pleaded guilty to burglary.

The court heard McDonagh has previous convictions for burglary.

Maughan has convictions for theft and other dishonesty offences.

Kitchingman has no previous convictions.

Eddison Flint, for McDonagh, said his client committed the offence at a time when he was grieving over the death of his son and needed money to pay for the funeral.

Soheil Khan, for Maughan, said her father had died while she was in custody and she had missed his funeral.

Mr Khan said Maughan and Kitchingman are in a relationship.

McDonagh was jailed for three years and three months and Maughan was jailed for two years.

Kitchingman was given a 20-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, and was ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Judge Simon Batiste said: "It is clear that this was a professionally planned and equipped burglary where you were going out reconnoitring properties to see if they were able to be burgled in an affluent area of Leeds."