'I think we're gonna get locked up': Heartless burglars broke into home of frail 90-year-old neighbour then realised they were doomed after spotting secret security camera

Gareth Gear and Allen Hogg ransacked the elderly victim's home in Harehills and stole thousands of pounds worth of sentimental jewellery.

The heartless pair were arrested after they triggered a security camera which was linked to an App on the victim's son's phone.

Police then discovered a cannabis farm worth £14,000 when they went to arrest Gear at his home next door.

Both men were jailed for 44 months at Leeds Crown Court.

Duncan Ritchie, prosecuting, said Gear and Hogg were aware that the elderly victim was not at home at the time as he was in a rehabilitation centre in hospital.

But the defendants were not aware that a security camera had been installed in the property.

The prosecutor said the defendants noticed the camera and one of them said: "I think we are gonna get locked up. I think we are f*****!"

Officers went to the house and found Hogg in the kitchen trying to break into a safe which had been lifted onto a chair.

He was holding a hammer and jewellery which belonged to the victim.

The officers then saw another man moving around outside at the back of the house.

They went to Gear's house where he was at home with his partner.

Gear claimed he had been outside getting some beer from his shed.

The officers checked the camera footage, realised Gear was involved in the burglary then arrested him.

Gear denied knowing anything about the burglary but a Tupperware box was found in his home which contained watches and jewellery belonging to the victim.

He made no comment during interview before telling officers he was "bang to rights" after being shown the camera footage.

Gear added: "I best get ready to go back to prison."

Mr Ritchie said 26 cannabis plants were also found in a room in Gear's home along with growing equipment.

Gear claimed he had been offered £1,500 to grow the plants at his home.

Hogg, of Ashton Grove, Harehills, pleaded guilty burglary. Gear, of Foundry Drive, Harehills, pleaded guilty to burglary and producing cannabis.

The victim's son provided a statement to the court describing how many of the items taken in the burglary were "of extreme sentimental value".

Some of the jewellery belonged to the victim's late wife.

The son said: "The loss of such items would be devastating to my father who is very frail at this time.

"Such heartache would be detrimental to his health in his condition."

Gear and Hogg also caused £500 worth of damage to the property during the break-in, which took place on December 30 last year..

Hogg, 41, has 13 previous convictions for burglary or attempted burglary.

Gear, 39, has 29 previous convictions for 94 offences, including theft and burglary.

Matthew Harding, for Hogg, said his client had managed to stay out trouble for over year after being released from custody until he relapsed into abusing alcohol and drugs.

Richard Reed, for Gear, said his client last served a custodial sentence in 2015.

Mr Reed said Gear suffers from degenerative cerebral palsy.

He added: "He is in a state now where the Prison Service has obtained a wheelchair for him. He acknowledges that it is unlikely that he will be before the court again for these offences."

Sentencing the pair, Judge Robin Mairs said: "You essentially decided to burgle an elderly and absent neighbour because you knew there would be rich pickings inside."