Burglar caught under the bed, sentenced to over three years in prison

A serial thief who was caught by police hiding under a bed has been jailed for more than three years.

Anthony Jackson, 39, was flushed by police dogs at a house he had just robbed in December.

He caused up to £3,000 worth of damage to the address and stole a wallet, bank cards and gold jewellery.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Jackson, of Shipley, West Yorkshire, was on license and on bail for handling stolen bikes when a neighbor heard loud bangs and saw lights on at a property in the early hours of December 18.

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Prosecutor Jade Edwards said police arrived to find Jackson “jumping in the garden” behind the houses before running back into the unoccupied house which was being renovated.

He had two torches, a wrench and a crowbar and broke a nearby garage window in search of items to steal.

The court heard Jackson broke into the house by breaking new patio doors and began ransacking the property.

Looking for things to loot, Jackson put his foot through the attic ceiling and damaged the interior doors.

The repair bill was estimated by the householder at between £2,000 and £3,000.

Miss Edwards said Jackson spent twenty minutes raiding the house before he was caught.

The court heard that Jackson was bitten by the police dog when he refused to get out from under the bed.

Jackson pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary and dishonestly tampering with a bicycle and bicycle frame.

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The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Richard Mansell QC, jailed Jackson for a total of 40 months.

He told her: “You robbed and damaged property and caused the victim significant financial loss and your culpability is greater because you were clearly equipped for the burglary and there was a degree of planning involved.”

Jackson had 46 previous convictions for 162 offences, including 20 residential burglaries and 91 thefts and similar dishonesty matters.

His lawyer, Gerald Hendron, said he suffered from anxiety and depression and had taken too many tablets on the night of the burglary.