Leeds crook burgled five homes in a day

Gareth Vaughan was caught red handed by police after they received repeated calls of break-ins at properties in the Hyde Park area of Leeds on December 20 last year.

Leeds Crown Court heard Vaughan was found hiding under a bed by officers at the scene of his fifth offence.

Earlier in the day he forced his way into a house on Woodsley Road as a woman was asleep in bed inside the property.

Vaughan fled after the victim screamed. He then forced a window at a house in Kendal Lane and stole a lap top, computer equipment and a handbag.

A short time later Vaughan walked into the kitchen of a property on Hanover Square but ran off after the homeowner saw him. A house on Rillbank Lane was then targeted and Vaughan stole a TV after smashing a window.

Police were called to the property and heard the sound of glass smashing at the house next door.

Officers went to investigate and found Vaughan hiding under a bed with a phone he had just stolen.

Vaughan, 35, of Poplar Mount, Bramley, pleaded guilty to five offences of burglary. He asked for one offence of handling stolen goods to be taken into consideration by the court. The court heard Vaughan was before the courts for burglary for the eleventh time and has a criminal record dating back to 1997.

David Tyrer, mitigating, said Vaughan committed the offences to fund a long-standing drug habit.

He said Vaughan had co-operated with police and pleaded guilty to the offences at an early stage.

Judge Tom Bayliss, QC, told Vaughan why he was imposing such a lengthy sentence. He said: “You are 35 and you are a career burglar. The record of the offending combined with an inability or unwillingness to rehabilitate yourself or respond to sentences means that a sentencing judge has to depart radically from the sentencing guidelines.”