A judge jailed a pub burglar for 18 months and then told him he deserved a longer sentence.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Mohammed Shabir Ahmed carried out a late-night burglary at the Cross Roads pub in Keighley.

He was accompanied by two other men and the court heard there was a confrontation when the occupiers came downstairs to investigate.

Prosecutor John Topham said Ahmed, 25, and one of his accomplices were detained at the scene after a struggle.

Ahmed yesterday admitted being under the influence of heroin at the time of the break-in.

But after hearing that Ahmed's accomplice had been sentenced to only 18 months imprisonment for the burglary by one of his colleagues, Judge Alistair McCallum decided he could not pass a longer sentence.

"I think it's worth more than 18 months. But I am rather stuck with that,'' he noted.

He told Ahmed, of Surrey Street, Keighley: "My own view is that sort of offence deserves three years.

"But I have to take account of the fact that the co-accused has been sentenced to 18 months, even though I think it's far too low."

Ahmed, who pleaded guilty to the burglary, was sentenced to a further three months in jail for a separate offence of trying to cash an altered giro cheque, which he also admitted.

His barrister Mark Fletton confirmed that Ahmed had used heroin before committing the burglary.

He told Bradford Crown Court that it was the other two men who came up with the idea.

He pointed out that his client had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and had already served eight months on remand.

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