LATEST: Sherie North behind bars after being apprehended overnight

POLICE are hunting for a 23-year-old Bradford woman who has been jailed in her absence for four years.

Sherie North was originally spared jail after she “terrorised” her own grandfather in two raids – but will now be locked up after her sentence was increased yesterday by the Court of Appeal.

North, of Harden Grove, Ravenscliffe, was sentenced to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years, on December 18 at Bradford Crown Court. The court heard that she and her accomplice boyfriend had targeted her own grandfather on two occasions.

Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP referred the sentence to the Court of Appeal and at a hearing yesterday she was handed an immediate custodial sentence of four years.

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General said: “North terrorised her own grandfather to feed her drug addiction. I hope that a custodial sentence gives North the time she needs to reflect on her actions and overcome her addiction.”

A similar request was also made regarding the sentence of her accomplice, boyfriend Scott Cross, who was jailed for nine years with a five-year extended licence.

Cross, 34, of Wharncliffe Crescent, Eccleshill, committed four robberies and an attempted robbery in the space of a week while on prison licence.

But after examination by the Attorney General’s Office, his case was not referred.

Cross robbed Richard Biller of a phone, a silver chain and £80 from the till at The Private Shop on Manningham Lane in the city, on September 26 and October 3.

He then robbed Liam Walsh of his mountain bike on October 2 and twice targeted North’s grandfather, John Horvath.

Cross and North pushed past Mr Horvath at his Incommunities flat on September 29.

Cross brandished a hammer near his face, demanding money and jewellery, tipping up the pensioner’s bed and throwing him to the floor.

The pair fled in a taxi with jewellery and £160 in cash.

A neighbour discovered Mr Horvath in a distressed state. His bed was upturned, his home ransacked and there was broken glass and a hammer on the floor.

Cross and North returned to Mr Horvath’s flat on October 3.

Cross pushed him over, hit him in the face and again tipped his bed over while he was on it. Mr Horvath pulled the emergency cord and the couple fled empty-handed.

Solicitor advocate John Bottomley said North was in a relationship with Cross and under his influence.

She had sought help with her drug addiction and was a very different person from her co-accused.

Cross was labelled a danger to the public by the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, after he admitted the spate of robberies.

The court heard he had squandered the £96,000 he received in compensation for the tragic death of his mother fuelling his addictions.

DCI Warren Pitman of Bradford District Police, said: “We are conducting enquiries to locate Sherie Leigh North who is from the Bradford area.  Anyone who has information about her whereabouts is asked to contact Bradford Police on 101 referencing crime number 13190036738.