A 30-year-old man who sold on cars stolen in the night while their owners slept has been jailed for two years.

Naser Hussain, of Gaisby Lane, Windhill, Shipley, pleaded guilty to one offence of housebreaking and three of dishonestly handling vehicles stolen from outside people’s homes in Bradford.

He burgled the keys to a Volkswagen Polo while the owner, a woman in her 50s, was asleep in Nab Wood Terrace on December 21, 2011. Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that Hussain jemmied a window and made off with the keys before driving off in the £1,000 vehicle. It was sold on to a car recovery business.

Hussain admitted handling a £3,500 Audi A2, a £10,000 Mazda RX-8 and a £1,500 Vauxhall Corsa, all raided from outside houses.

The Mazda was found near Hussain’s home. The number plates had been changed and his fingerprints were inside it, the court was told.

Hussain’s barrister, Robin Frieze, said he was leading a dishonest and partially drug-fuelled life at the time.

He had since served a two-year jail sentence for other offences and had turned his life around after his release.

“He is living a settled, stable, hard-working and responsible life,” Mr Frieze said. But Judge John Potter said Hussain played an important role in an organised enterprise to steal.