A SERIAL teenage burglar who broke into a pensioner’s house and stole treasured possessions including commemorative coins and watches has been locked up for more than two years.

Joe Crosdale, 18, was part of a gang of four who targeted the property on Springdale Crescent in Idle, Bradford, in the early hours of July 17 this year.

He said was “deeply ashamed” of his actions, which were labelled “disgraceful” by Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC.

Prosecutor Duncan Ritchie told Bradford Crown Court that the victim of the burglary was 71 year-old Michael Newbury.

He said that at around 5.45am on the morning of the offence, Mr Newbury had been asleep when the gang gained entry to his house via an insecure window.

Once inside the property, they stole a television set, a laptop, a mobile phone, £476 in cash, and a selection of commemorative coins and wristwatches.

Mr Ritchie said the total value of the items taken in the raid was approximately £2,200.

He said the burglars may have disturbed Mr Newbury, who woke to find his possessions had gone and called the police.

After viewing CCTV footage of the incident, Crosdale was recognised by officers and later arrested.

He was said to have been seen on camera passing items out of Mr Newbury’s living room window, and his fingerprints were also found at the scene.

When questioned by police, he had claimed it was a “spur of the moment” offence, instigated by other members of the group.

The court heard that Crosdale, of Valley Road, Baildon, had a total of six previous convictions, including a number for dwelling house burglaries.

He was subject to a community order for burglary at the time of the offence in July.

In mitigation, Crosdale’s barrister Yunus Valli said his client had been at a house party the night before the burglary and had been drinking before he got involved.

He said he had been living with his grandparents and had struggled to come to terms with the death of his grandfather in 2015.

When he found out about the age of his elderly victim, Mr Valli said Crosdale “felt sick” about his actions.

Several of Crosdale’s family, including his grandmother, were present in the public gallery of the court at Judge Durham Hall addressed him via a video link to Doncaster Prison and sentenced him to 28 .

“This was a disgraceful burglary, and you know it,” said Judge Durham Hall.

“You broke into the home of a 71 year-old man while he was asleep in his bed.

“You took property that was very dear to him.

“One can only imagine the deep wounds and upset this caused.”

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