Tearaway Leeds teenager stole microwave and coats as he took cars from busy driveway

A Leeds teenager who stole a microwave and golf clubs from a man’s home before driving off is now behind bars.

Dillon Owen, 18, carried out three separate burglaries in Leeds in just 12 days in May and stole four different cars from his victims as well as a range of belongings.

Leeds Crown Court heard on Monday that the first burglary took place between May 3 and 4 this year, with Owen, of Landseer View, targeting an address in Moorland Road. Prosecutor Thomas Doyle said car keys were taken from the property, as well as a Volkswagen Polo, which was filled up at a petrol station on Stanningley Road.

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Mr Doyle said the amount of petrol was worth £54.15 – and Owen failed to pay. The prosecutor added: “It then crashed into two moving vehicles before the car overturned on its driver’s side before crashing into a third vehicle. He got out of the driver’s side and ran on foot.

“The Polo sustained extensive damage and the vehicle was written off.”

In a separate burglary on May 14, Owen broke into another house in Congress Street in Leeds. At around 3am, it was said, a woman who lived there discovered her work laptop bag, H&M coats, Monzo card and car key had been taken, as well as her white Citroen C1 parked outside. Mr Doyle said: “At around 6.30am she received messages saying her card had been used at a BP petrol station and two transactions had been made.”

The deals were for £37.95 and £37.99. The court heard the woman’s car was recovered in Bramley by a friend who had been driving. Damage to the car was said to be £1,500 and the woman’s laptop bag and driving license were discovered around the corner from her home.

The court heard that on May 16, Owen targeted a multi-occupancy house in Royal Park Grove, Hyde Park and stole two vehicles and several items. Mr Doyle said: “Around 10am (the next day) a man woke up to a message that his card had been used. His black Suzuki Swift and a woman’s Renault Modus were taken.”

Owen also stole golf clubs, a microwave oven, driver’s license and bank cards from the property. He was arrested later that day and the Suzuki Swift was recovered, but the Modus was not.

Mr Doyle said: “His phone was seized and downloaded and there was incriminating evidence, including evidence of an image of the man’s bank card which had been given to his siblings and friends. He was also described as selling Modus on Snapchat.

“The Swift was seen by officers being driven by another man who said he had bought the car. There was correspondence on the defendant’s phone.”

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The court heard that Owen had nine previous offenses on his criminal record, including taking a conveyance without consent. His first victim in the case told in a victim impact statement how he had been saving up for his car since he was a 13-year-old paperboy and bought it himself for his 17th birthday. He said the personalized license plates – which were given to him by his grandparents and had sentimental value – were damaged in the collision and could not be replaced.

Owen was described as a “habitual burglar” after the court heard he pleaded guilty to three counts of theft, two counts of fraud by false representation, dangerous driving and absconding at magistrates court.

Mitigating, Stephen Smithson, told the court that Owen was a care leaver. His judge Mansell KC said: “I am obviously concerned about his vulnerabilities in life… He appears to have come under the influence of his brothers and his older colleagues. of being a young man and his general well-being’.

The judge jailed Owen for 16 months. It also disqualified him from driving for three years.

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