A Queensbury man was hit over the head with a crowbar during an attack by robbers outside his home.

A court heard today how Michael Charles had just parked up his Mitsubishi L200 when another vehicle pulled up and one of the occupants asked him the time.

Prosecutor Tony Kelbrick said while Lee Woodhead distracted Mr Charles one of his accomplices hit their victim over the head with the crowbar.

"Woodhead then grabbed the keys out of Mr Charles' hand and climbed into the vehicle," said Mr Kelbrick.

"Mr Charles tried to remove him and a struggle ensued but the two robbers got away in the Mitsubishi."

The third member of the gang drove after the stolen vehicle in their car.

Mr Kelbrick said the complainant suffered superficial injuries to his head and blood found on his shirt was later matched to Woodhead.

The robbery took place at about 4.15am and Bradford Crown Court heard that the offence was part of a crime-spree involving night-time house burglaries committed by Woodhead and others.

The 20-year-old, of no fixed abode, was today locked up for a total of 41 months after he admitted the robbery charge and a further allegation of conspiracy to burgle.

An accomplice in four house burglaries 20-year-old Brandon Wadsworth, also of no fixed abode, was sentenced to three years in custody after he also admitted the conspiracy charge.

Mr Kelbrick described how the pair, who both come from Calderdale, attacked homes in the area in September.

He said most of the offences were so-called Hanoi burglaries which involved the theft of keys for vehicles.

"The house burglaries were all committed at night and committed while the owners, and sometimes their children, were asleep in bed," he added.

The court heard how the burglars stole a handbag and its contents from a house in Bairstow Lane, Sowerby Bridge on September 7 - just two days before Woodhead carried out the robbery offence.

On September 12 they used a car aerial to push out a door key which was then "fished" through the lettbox so they could get into a property in Newlands Gate, Halifax.

A Kia Optima vehicle was then stolen from that home and on the same night the intruders stole a Smart 4x4 and a Peugeot 308 from a house in Towngate, Sowerby Bridge.

Mr Kelbrick said the Peugeot was later found abandoned with false number plates on it, but items in the car had the defendants' DNA on them.

The last burglary took place at a farmhouse in Halifax while the occupants were asleep and the burglars escaped with a Volvo XC90.

The court heard that both defendants had previous convictions and Recorder Dapinder Singh the offences had included a degree of planning and sophistication.

Detective Inspector Gary Stephenson, of Calderdale CID, said: "The sentences handed down today should act as a deterrent to those who think it acceptable to enter people’s homes and steal.

"These were local criminals stealing from within their local communities.

"The public of Calderdale can be assured we have a dedicated team investigating burglary dwelling offences, allowing us to carry out in depth enquiries to bring those offending to Court."

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