A “rock bottom” burglar who snatched a treasured jewellery box from a sleeping couple’s bedroom has been jailed for a total of three years.
Homeless James Strain stole the family heirloom after climbing onto a vehicle and grabbing the box through an open window. Bradford Crown Court heard on Tuesday how the male householder woke to see him reaching in to steal the box which contained watches, cuff links and a Battle of Britain brooch.
The late night burglary was part of series of crimes committed by the 35-year-old over a seven-week period last year.
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Strain, who had 26 convictions for 41 offences, had also been caught on a doorbell camera trying the handle of a woman’s home in the early hours and he then went on to force open a caravan door at another property. The court heard he used a wheelbarrow to make four trips with stolen items, including fishing equipment, bottles of alcohol, binoculars and a telescope.
Prosecutor Eleanor Durdy told the court his DNA was found on a wine bottle after the theft of possessions valued at £1,000. Following the jewellery box burglary Strain was seen by the police driving a stolen Ford Focus on Gelderd Road, Leeds.
He ran off after abandoning the vehicle, but was arrested. A bag found on him contained the stolen watches and cuff links as well as a machete and a kitchen knife.
Strain pleaded guilty to attempted burglary, theft from the caravan, handling the stolen car, house burglary, two offences of possession of a bladed article and driving while disqualified.
In a victim personal statement the couple said both had health problems and the female householder said the wooden jewellery box had belonged to her grandmother and was treasured possession.
Frances Pencheon said in mitigation that Strain had hit rock bottom at the time. He had split up with his long-term partner and was homeless and drinking heavily. She said he committed the offences to obtain money to live on and now planned to move away from West Yorkshire to make a fresh start.
Judge Jonathan Gibson jailed him for a total of three years for all the offences.
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