Teen burglar smashed his way into house in Morley then made threatening phone calls from custody

A teenage burglar smashed his way into a family home in Leeds and stole almost £2,000 worth of property.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Lewis Woodcock also made phone calls from custody after he was arrested in which he threatened to burn down another property.

Leeds Crown Court heard Woodcock, 18, and a male youth targeted a house on Weaver Gardens, Morley, on October 23 last year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jessica Randall, prosecuting, said the house was left locked and secured in the morning before the family who live there went out.

Burglar Lewis Woodcock was sent to a young offender institution for 32 months.Burglar Lewis Woodcock was sent to a young offender institution for 32 months.
Burglar Lewis Woodcock was sent to a young offender institution for 32 months.

Woodcock and his accomplice climbed over a wall to get into the garden.

The defendant threw a rock through the conservatory before they went inside and stole a TV worth £1,500 as well as an Xbox, a tablet device and a camera.

A 16-year-old girl returned home to find the damage to the conservatory and contacted her mother as she was frightened in case anyone was still inside the property.

Police officers arrived and confirmed the house was empty.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

CCTV footage of the burglars was circulated on Facebook and Woodcock was recognised by another officer.

The other burglar was reported to the police by his own family after they recognised him.

Woodcock denied the offence and claimed to have been shopping with a friend at the time of the incident.

Miss Randall said Woodcock made threatening phone calls to another teenager while he was being held on remand at a young offender institution.

He threatened to set fire to a house and assault people.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The court was played a recording of the threats Woodcock made during the phone calls.

Woodcock, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to burglary, threatening to commit criminal damage and sending a malicious communication on the day of his trial.

He has previous convictions for burglary, violence, criminal damage and breaching court orders.

At the time of the offending he was in breach of a conditional discharge.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Aubrey Sampson, mitigating, asked the court to take into account Woodcock's young age and asked that he be given credit for entering his guilty plea before trial.

The Recorder of Leeds, Judge Guy Kearl QC, gave Woodcock a sentence of 32 months.

The court heard the other teenager involved in the burglary was made the subject of 12-month youth rehabilitation order.