A man has been jailed for six months after he was caught with electrical equipment raided in a break-in at a Bradford gospel hall.

Christopher Broadbent planned to sell the hearing aid loop and amplifier for a profit after buying them for £20, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Broadbent, 38, of Sunny Bank Road, Odsal, Bradford, pleaded guilty to dishonestly handling the items stolen when Bankfoot Gospel Hall on Manchester Road was burgled in early November.

His not guilty plea to burgling the building was accepted by the Crown at today’s sentencing hearing.

Prosecutor Abdul Shakoor said a window was smashed at the hall by the intruders.

The break-in wasn’t immediately spotted but a neighbour saw Broadbent carrying electri-cal items into his home and alerted the police.

He said he had bought the stolen property earlier that day and intended to sell it on for a higher price.

The treasurer confirmed that the items belonged to the gospel hall.

Broadbent had 23 previous convictions for 51 offences, including house burglary, non-dwelling burglary, robbery, theft and going equipped.

His solicitor advocate, John Bottomley, said he had been held in prison on remand for the equivalent of an eight month sentence.

Broadbent was the father of two children and had suffered post-traumatic stress disorder after the tragic death of his partner.

He struggled with serious mental health problems and had reflected on matters in jail, re-solving to make a new start.

Recorder Kirstie Watson said the six month prison sentence would mean that Broadbent was released from custody immediately.