Woman climbed scaffolding outside Leeds tower block to burgle her boyfriend's flat

Angela Edeson caused around £300 worth of damage after she scaled the outside of the The Heights, Armley, to reach the balcony of her former partner's home.

One inside she scrawled abusive graffiti about the victim and caused damage.

Leeds Crown Court heard Edeson and the victim had been in a relationship for 12 months before the incident.

Caroline Abraham, prosecuting, said Edeson's behaviour became "more volatile" over the last six months of the relationship and her partner wanted her to move out of his home.

The prosecutor said the victim was at his sister's home on November 14 last year when he received a phone call from a neighbour informing him that Edeson, 42, had been seen climbing up scaffolding outside the flats.

Another neighbour had also seen the defendant on the balcony of the property.

Ms Abraham said Edeson used a metal object to smash two windows and was screaming as she caused the damage.

The victim returned to his home to find that an arm chair cushion had been slashed.

Foul and abusive language had also been written in red pen on the walls and living room window.

Police were called and arrested Edeson in an alleyway nearby.

Edeson, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to burglary and two counts of criminal damage.

She has previous convictions for burglary, child neglect and breach of a suspended sentence order.

Anthony Sugare, mitigating, said Edeson was living a chaotic lifestyle at the time of the incident but is now receiving support and cooperating with the probation service.

Edeson was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months,

She was also ordered to complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.