Son from Leeds burgled mother’s house before father broke in

James Ashton, 30, broke into his mother’s house on Heald Street, Castleford, between March 10 and 13 and stole a 42 inch TV.

Prosecutor, Nick Adlington, said James’s father Simon Ashton, 52, (pictured above) later forced a patio door open at his ex-partner’s home while she was on holiday with her husband and stole property worth £4,000, including an engagement ring.

Mr Adlington said James Ashton was spotted at Cash Converters stores in Castleford and Pontefract trying to sell the stolen property including two guitars, a telescope, jewellery and electrical items.

James Ashton, of Emmaus Leeds, St Mary’s Street, Sheepscar and Simon Ashton, of no fixed abode, both admitted burglary.

Mitigating, Daniel Smith said James Ashton plunged into depression and started using drugs when his partner died after suffering an epileptic seizure while the couple were in bed in April 2014.

Mr Smith said James Ashton, who has no previous convictions, has since turned his life around and is now drug-free.

Mr Smith said Simon Ashton, who has four previous convictions for 11 offences, suffered a heart attack last October and had to stop working for health reasons in February this year.

Recorder Kate Tulk jailed Simon Ashton for two years.

James Ashton was handed a two-year jail sentence, suspended for 18 months and ordered to do 180 hours unpaid work.