A HEROIN addict who burgled a pensioner’s home and a mosque while limping along on crutches has been jailed for more than three years.

Three strike housebreaker, Imran Ali, was in a leg brace when he targeted the 75-year-old’s address in Aspley Crescent, Manningham, Bradford, and then ripped a speaker off the wall at the Anjuman Haidera Mosque in nearby St Mary’s Road.

Ali, 41, of Mornington, Crescent, Manningham, was sentenced to a total of 1,100 days imprisonment when he appeared on a video link to Bradford Crown Court from Leeds Prison yesterday.

He pleaded guilty to both of the burglaries, the second committed four days after he was charged and bailed for targeting the pensioner’s address, brazenly walking inside while workmen were replacing the windows.

Ali made off with two phones belonging to one of the men working at the property.

He told the police he was not the intruder, despite being described by the workmen as walking on crutches.

Ali repeated his sneak-in method when he burgled the mosque. Staff assumed he was a new member looking round.

Ali had 80 previous convictions for 37 offences, including serving prison terms in 2001, 2003 and 2005 for house burglary, prosecutor Louise Pryke told the court.

His solicitor advocate, Ashok Khullar said Ali stole to feed his heroin addiction.

The offence at the woman’s home was sneak-in and opportunistic.

“Two workmen were there and he walked, or limped I should say, straight past them,” Mr Khullar said.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, said Ali had the “confidence and wherewithal” to go straight into the premises.

Ali was jailed for 876 days for the house burglary and 224 days, to run consecutively, for stealing from the mosque.

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