Professional Leeds burglar stole boy's birthday cash

Dennis Roberts, 39, was returned to prison for four and a half years over raids on homes in the Osmondthorpe area of Leeds.

Leeds Crown Court heard Roberts carried out three burglaries in January and February this year.

Chloe Hudson, prosecuting, said Roberts used tools to force open a door and a kitchen window to get into a house on Wilfred Avenue.

He caused £800 worth of damage getting into the house before stealing £85 in cash from a birthday card which had been sent to a boy who lived at the family home. Roberts’s DNA, blood and fingerprints were found on the birthday card and the kitchen window.

Roberts also broke a window to get into a house on Primrose Lane, causing £50 worth of damage. He searched the property but did not take anything of value. Miss Hudson said Roberts also carried out a burglary at his sister’s home on Osmondthorpe Lane.

The court heard Roberts was disturbed by his niece as he searched the house. He then grabbed a mobile phone from his relative but she managed to get it back after a struggle.

Roberts then left but was arrested the next day after police were informed.

Roberts, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to three offences of burglary. He has served a number of lengthy prison sentence for domestic burglary.

Miss Hudson said: “This man is a professional burglar.”

The court heard he has a long-standing addiction to heroin.

Jailing Roberts, Recorder Ray Singh described the targeting of his sister’s home and the break-in in which he stole the boy’s birthday money as “particularly mean and nasty offences.” He said: “You have a significant record, primary for entering people’s home and taking items from them.”