A professional burglar was today beginning a ten-year jail sentence after a judge told him he had "played for high stakes and lost".

At the end of a fortnight-long trial at Bradford Crown Court, a jury found Robert Dooley guilty of conspiring with others to commit a string of break-ins across the region.

Dooley, 42, of Mandeville Crescent, Buttershaw - a burglar for more than 20 years - showed no emotion as Judge James Spencer handed down the sentence.

Judge Spencer told him there was "overwhelming evidence" he had conspired to burgle homes over a three-year period.

He added: "It is clear that you played a pivotal role in the activities of a gang of burglars during that period."

The gang had targeted 20 houses, said Judge Spencer, adding: "They were carefully selected properties and then were attacked ruthlessly after some reconnaissance."

Detective Constable Richard Smith, who headed the investigation, said after the case: "He was a career criminal. This was his job." He likened the gang to a football team, with various members going on different 'jobs'.

Dooley always chose secluded, rural homes and would "scope them out" beforehand, sometimes even taking notes.

On one occasion, he pulled off an alarm box to gauge how long it would take police to arrive.

Det Con Smith said homes were targeted in Bradford, Huddersfield, Dewsbury, North Yorkshire, Oakworth and Southowram, near Halifax, with each break-in netting up to £12,000.

"Because these houses were isolated the attacks often had a devastating and traumatic effect on the residents," said Det Con Smith.

One middle aged victim had to give a statement to officers in her garden rather than her house "because she was so frightened".

For two years after an elderly couple's house was targeted, they would never leave the house together for fear of another attack, he added. And when a 12-year-old boy discovered Dooley in his home, the burglar ordered him not to look at his face as he escaped.

An exhaustive police inquiry, which involved intelligence gathered from more than 100 officers, eventually linked ten cars belonging to Dooley to burglary scenes.

The court heard how Dooley had first been locked up for burglary in 1978, received a five-year sentence in 1987 and another three-and-a-half year sentence in 1991 - both for break-ins.

Judge Spencer said: "With breathtaking arrogance you tried to lie your way out of trouble and you've failed." He added: "You're a professional burglar. You've been a burglar for more than 20 years. You played for high stakes and you lost. You will go to prison for ten years."

Det Con Smith said: "We are delighted with this sentence and it shows that these sort of offences will not be tolerated."