'Prolific' burglar locked up for breaking into community centre, estate agents and house during latest crime spree in Beeston

Thomes Pountain carried out the offences in Beeston in February this year after being released from prison on licence for burgling commercial premises.

Dave MacKay, prosecuting, said Pountain broke into the The Vale Circles Community Centre on Tunstall Road.

The centre is a mental health hub run by Leeds City Council.

Pountain left empty-handed after he could find nothing to steal and activated an alarm.

He was identified as the culprit after he cut himself during the break-in and his blood was recovered from the scene.

A short time later Pountain broke into a house on Woodview Place.

The 29-year-old defendant then forced his way into Eldon Estate Agents, on Dewsbury Road.

He removed a TV worth £250 from a wall before leaving with it.

Pountain had been drinking from a bottle of alcohol at the time and left it in the premises.

It was found to contain his DNA.

Pountain, of no fixed address, refused to comment after he was arrested.

He later admitted carrying out all three offences.

Pountain, who pleaded guilty to three counts of burglary, said he sold the TV for £60 to pay for drugs.

Michael Walsh, mitigating, said Pountain's offending is linked to his long-standing addiction to drugs.

Jailing him for seven months, Judge Mushtaq Khokhar said: "You are a prolific burglar.

"There are some dwelling house burglaries on your record but in the main it is commercial premises that you have been burgling.

"What makes this offending worse is that you had just been released from a prison sentence for similar type of offending. You were subject to licence.

"It is about time you gained maturity and took responsibility for your actions.

"If you want to stay out of prison the first thing you have got to do is get rid of your addiction.

"Otherwise the sentences will only get longer and longer."