Ringleader of Halloween mask-wearing gang who robbed victim in his own home is jailed for more than seven years.

The ringleader of a gang who wore Halloween masks as they robbed a man in his own home has been jailed for more than seven years.
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Violent criminal Dean Firth lead a group of youths to the house in Dewsbury where the 20-year-old victim was threatened and feared he would be stabbed.

Firth, 51, put on a skull Halloween mask before entering the property on Westgate with one of the youngsters who was also wearing a Halloween mask.

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Leeds Crown Court the incident took place after a dispute over a drug debt.

Robber Dean Firth was jailed for over seven years.Robber Dean Firth was jailed for over seven years.
Robber Dean Firth was jailed for over seven years.

The victim believed the matter was over after paying his debt but he was targeted in his flat on November 20 this year.

Martin Robertshaw, prosecuting, said Firth and the teenager threatened the victim and called him a 'nonce'.

They told him they were carrying a set of knives and ordered him to hand over his bank card and tell them his pin number.

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Mr Robertshaw said the man was "petrified" and gave them his bank details.

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The robbers told the victim to regard the incident as a "warning" and told him they would be coming back.

The victim's bank account was later emptied of £80.

The prosecutor said the victim was so frightened he did not dare leave his home for 20 minutes.

He then went to a friend's house and contacted police.

Firth was identified from CCTV footage which showed him putting on the mask before carrying out the offence.

He was arrested and refused to comment during interview.

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Firth, of Oates Street, Dewsbury, pleaded guilty to robbery.

He has 43 convictions for 126 offences including supplying drugs and burglary.

He was out of prison on licence at the time of the robbery.

Matthew Harding, mitigating, said Firth's offending was linked to his addiction to alcohol.

Mr Harding said his client had managed to obtain work after his release from prison but had been furloughed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Firth was jailed for seven years and one month.

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Sentencing Firth, Judge Robin Mairs said: "There was an element of preparation and therefore an element of planning.

"You knew what you were going to do.

"You and others were abusive to him.

"You let him believe you were armed with weapons.

"In his terrified state this young man believed that weapons were to be brandished."

The court heard two teenagers have appeared before a youth court over the incident.