Leeds burglar jailed over latest crime spree

Craig Brattley, 28, had been released from prison on licence when he committed the offences in the Roundhay area of the city in September this year.

Leeds Crown Court heard Brattley and another man were caught on CCTV looking for vehicles to break into on Talbot Court on September 12.

The pair left empty handed but returned to the same street four days later and gained entry to a Honda civic parked on the driveway.

A holdall was taken from the vehicle which contained the front door keys to the property.

The key was used to open the door and the burglar alarm was activated.

The owner of the house was in bed at the time and was awoken. He went downstairs but Brattley and the other man had fled.

The victim did not realise an offence had been committed until days later when he noticed the holdall was missing from the car and remembered a house key had been in it.

Brattley was recognised after police managed to obtain clear CCTV images of the attempted burglary from a camera on a neighbouring property.

Brattley also broke into the garage of a house on Stainburn Crescent on the night of October 28.

He stole two mountain bikes, worth £500, after breaking a lock.

Brattley was linked to that offence as he left a pair of wire cutters close to the scene and they were found to contain his DNA.

Brattley, of Oak Tree Drive, Gipton, pleaded guilty burglary, attempted burglary, theft and two offences of attempted theft.

The court heard Brattley has 39 previous convictions, mainly for drugs and dishonesty offences.

Marlon Grossman, mitigating, said Brattley had been released from prison on licence earlier this year and had returned to live with his girlfriend.

He said Brattley began committing offences after their relationship broke down and he returned to abusing cocaine.

Jailing Brattley, The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Peter Collier, QC, said: “You are now 28 and you are building up quite a record over the years, mainly because of your drug habit.”