Quad bike riding-burglars who hit Leeds school and farms snared by police helicopter
The pair failed to outrun the police after break-ins
A pair of burglars were chased down by a police helicopter after breaking into a school and a number of farms in North Leeds.
Shaun Mallory and Jordan Midwinter were part of a four-man gang who helped steal vehicles and power tools worth thousands in the space of one night.
But fleeing across fields proved futile with the helicopter able to monitor them and eventually guide officers on the ground to their precise whereabouts.
The pair were both given suspended sentences at Leeds Crown Court this week, largely because of the delay in bringing the matter to conclusion.
Prosecutor Matthew Stewart said the pair had been spotted at a petrol station on the quad bike hours before their crime spree on January 3, 2024.
The pair, along with two others, were then seen in the grounds of Tadcaster Grammar School at 12.45am.
They cut locks from containers but left empty-handed.
They then broke into a hangar on Spen Common Lane at Bramham and stole a Vauxhall van worth £6,450.
At 2.15am they stole a trailer from a farm, but fled after the owners were alerted. The trailer was later recovered.
Finally, on Wike Lane at Bardsey they took a John Deere Gator vehicle worth £6,000 from a stable.
Police were called the area at 4.10am and spotted the suspects in the Whinmoor estate.
Fleeing on the quad bike, they drove off but the scrambled helicopter helped officers close in.
At around 6am officers were finally able to arrest them near Bramham Road.
Both later admitted four counts of non-dwelling burglaries.
Midwinter, 32, also admitted affray after an incident in July 2023 when he fired pellets from an air rifle while sat in a vehicle on Brooklands Close, Seacroft.
Midwinter, of York Road, Seacroft, has seven previous convictions for eight offences.
Mitigating, Philip Morris said since then Midwinter has “very much changed his views” and had “moved on from that type of behaviour”.
Thirty-six-year-old Mallory, of York Road, Osmondthorpe, has five previous convictions for seven offences.
Catherine Duffy, mitigating on his behalf, said his decision to become involved in the burglaries was “spur of the moment”.
She added: “He is genuinely remorseful for his involvement.
“He acknowledges it was a stupid decision and understands the impact it has on others.”
She said he had stayed out of trouble since.
Judge Simon Phillips KC gave Midwinter a 33-month sentence, suspended for 36 months, with 200 hours of unpaid work and a probation requirement to complete.
Mallory was handed a 25-month sentence, suspended for 36 months, with 150 hours of unpaid work.
Both were ordered to pay more than £3,600 compensation each.