A persistent house-breaker who raided a family’s home while they were out at a birthday tea has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Carl Victor, 36, of St Enoch’s Road, Wibsey, Bradford, got into the flat through an insecure window and made an untidy search before escaping with high value items.

He was arrested after he was caught on CCTV cameras carrying off a distinctive tie netted in the haul, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Victor, who has served two three-year prison stretches, for house burglary and street robbery, pleaded guilty to raiding the flat, on Sunbridge Road, Bradford, on December 10.

Two days’ earlier, he entered student accommodation in the city centre and stole two television sets.

He was sentenced as a “three strike” home burglar but the three-year minimum term was reduced to reflect his guilty pleas.

Victor’s solicitor advocate, Andrew Walker, said it was ten years since he was last sentenced for house breaking.