A CRACK cocaine addict caught fleeing a ransacked house with “anything and everything” he could plunder has been jailed for four years.

Serial housebreaker Steven Hill-Hands was apprehended with a pillowcase containing World War One medals inherited from the home owner’s grandfather, as well as jewellery, watches and her passport.

Hill-Hands, 44, of Grove Terrace, Little Horton, Bradford, had swallowed temazepam and codine tablets before joining two accomplices to break into the property in Fleet Lane, Queensbury, at 2pm on August 22.

Prosecutor Duncan Ritchie said Hill-Hands was on prison licence and in breach of a conditional discharge for shoplifting when he burgled the address while the woman householder was at work.

The gang was spotted acting suspiciously at the house and the police were on the scene in time to disturb the raiders, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

Hill-Hands, who pleaded guilty to burglary, dropped the pillow case stuffed with his ill-gotten gains as he fled on foot.

He was rooted out by a police dog as he tried to hide in bushes nearby.

Mr Ritchie said drawers were tipped out and cupboards emptied by the raiders. Hill-Hands was escaping with the medals, jewellery and watches, along with computer equipment.

He denied the offence at the police station before becoming abusive and refusing to answer further questions.

The court heard that all the property was recovered.

Jeremy Barton, barrister for Hill-Hands, conceded he was a “third strike” house burglar.

He raided the property after being released on April 25 from his previous sentence of imprisonment.

Mr Barton said Hill-Hands suffered from anxiety and depression and genuinely meant to take a fatal overdose. He was admitted to hospital before being returned to the police station.

Hill-Hands had been a crack cocaine addict for many years and was unable to find a job because of his drug addiction and criminal record.

“He is generally a very unhappy and miserable man,” Mr Barton said.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, said Hill-Hands was after “anything and everything” he could steal in the well planned burglary.

He was jailed for three years nine months for the burglary and three months consecutively for the breach of conditional discharge.